REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION CHARACTERIZATION OF A HEXAGONAL PHOTONIC CRYSTAL IN THE MID INFRARED

We report on the fabrication of a hexagonal photonic crystal of air cy linders in silicon and its characterization in the mid infrared. The s tructure was obtained in electrochemically etched macroporous silicon. Simultaneous reflection and transmission measurements were undertaken for the two main crystal orientations and two polarizations. The firs t four orders of photonic band gaps were identified by transmission at tenuations and reflection peaks. A complete photonic band gap was obse rved at 5.8 mu m, in good agreement with numerical calculations. The m easured reflection characteristics of the crystal demonstrate the appl ication possibilities of photonic crystals. (C) 1998 American Institut e of Physics.