A.F. Ioffe Physicotech. Inst., Acad. of Sci., St. Petersburg, Russia

Superlattices and Microstructures , vol.22, no.3 , Page: 393-7, Academic Press , 1997

Abstract: The symmetry and orientation of a photonic lattice of 3D ordered porous silica matrices (synthetic opals) are determined by analysis of transmission electron micrographs. By optical transmission measurements the photonic band edges are mapped out at points L and K of the Brillouin zone. It is shownthat modulating the refractive index of opal pores by filling them with liquids results in variation of the light attenuation length within the forbidden gap. To increase the refractive index contrast of the lattice, the pores of opals were filled with CdS. A dramatic decrease in attenuation lengthis observed for opal/CdS. The parameters of a photonic lattice with a `pseudo-gap', that is, with a prominent depletion of the photonic density of states, are estimated. (4 References)