PHOTONIC BAND-GAPS IN 3-DIMENSIONS - NEW LAYER-BY-LAYER PERIODIC STRUCTURES

A new three-dimensional (3D) periodic dielectric structure constructed with layers of dielectric rods of circular, elliptical, or rectangula r shape is introduced. This new structure possesses a full photonic ba nd gap of appreciable frequency width. At midgap, an attenuation of 21 dB per unit cell is obtained. This gap remains open for refractive in dices n greater than or equal to 1.9. Furthermore, this new 3D layer s tructure potentially has the additional advantage that it can be easil y fabricated using conventional microfabrication techniques on the sca le of optical wavelengths.