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Synopsis
Photonic band gap crystals offer unique ways to tailor light and the propagation of electromagnetic waves. In analogy to electrons in a crystal, EM waves propagating in a structure with a periodically-modulated dielectric constant are organized into photonic bands separated by gaps in which propagating states are forbidden. Proposed applications of such photonic band gap crystals, operating at frequencies from microwave to optical, include zero- threshold lasers, low-loss resonators and cavities, and efficient microwave antennas. Spontaneous emission is suppressed for photons in the photonic band gap, offering novel approaches to manipulating the EM field and creating high-efficiency light-emitting structures.
Photonic Band Gap Materials identifies three most promising areas of research. The first is materials fabrication, involving the creation of high quality, low loss, periodic dielectric structures. The smallest photonic crystals yet fabricated have been made by machining Si wafers along (110), and some have lattice constants as small as 500 microns. The second area is in applications. Possible applications presented are microwave mirrors, directional antennas, resonators (especially in the 2 GHz region), filters, waveguides, Y splitters, and resonant microcavities. The third area covers fundamentally new physical phenomena in condensed matter physics and quantum optics.
An excellent review of recent development, covering theoretical, experimental and applied aspects. Interesting and stimulating reading for active researchers, as well as a useful reference for non-specialists.
Booknews
Because photonic band gap crystals offer unique ways to tailor light and the propagation of electromagnetic waves from the microwave to the optical, they have been proposed for novel applications such as zero-threshold lasers, low-loss resonators and cavities, and efficient microwave antennas. The 42 papers here cover the fundamentals, metallic structures and transmission, applications, structures in one and two dimensions, and localization. Among the specific topics are elastic waves in periodic composite materials, transfer matrix techniques for electromagnetic waves,two-dimensional photonic bandgap in semiconductors, complex-unit systems and quasi one-dimensional waveguides, and energy transport velocity in random media. Reproduced from typescripts. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)