2-DIMENSIONAL PHOTONIC BAND-GAP MATERIALS

The properties of 2D photonic lattices, and especially the presence of photonic band-gaps, are reviewed. Using symmetry arguments, general c onditions on the nature of the eigenmodes for all 2D periodic dielectr ic lattices are derived. A method of computing photonic band-structure s is briefly discussed. The in-plane band-structures of the square and triangular lattices of cylinders are systematically investigated. The out-of-plane band-structure for a prototypical system is described. E ffects of periodicity-breaking are discussed, including localization o f light due to lattice defects, and localized surface modes.