Photonic crystal reflectors/filters and displacement sensing applications

US7155087B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Wonjoo Suh · Stanford, US
• Mehmet Fatih Yanik · Watertown, US
• Olav Solgaard · Stanford, US
• Shanhui Fan · Stanford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 8, 2003
• Grant date: Dec 26, 2006
• Expiry date: Feb 6, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B82Y20/00
• WIPO field: Micro-structural and nano-technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

We introduce a mechanically tunable photonic crystal structure consisting of coupled photonic crystal slabs. Using both analytic theory, and first-principles finite-difference time-domain simulations, we demonstrate that the transmission and reflection coefficients for light normally incident upon such structures can be highly sensitive to nano-scale variations in the spacing between the slabs. Moreover, by specifically configuring the photonic crystal structures, the high sensitivity can be preserved in spite of significant fabrication-related disorders. We expect such a structure to play important roles in micro-mechanically tunable optical sensors and filters.