PHOTONIC CRYSTALS

A new class of composite materials has emerged which provides a means to control and manipulate light. These materials, known as photonic cr ystals, are periodic arrays of dielectric scatterers in homogeneous di electric matrices. They affect the properties of photons in much the s ame way a semiconductor affects the properties of an electron. Consequ ently, photons can have band structures, localized defect states, surf ace states, etc. The ability to mold and guide light will lead to many applications in the control of spontaneous emission and in the fabric ation of novel optoelectronic devices. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.