M. Bayindir et E. Ozbay, Heavy photons at coupled-cavity waveguide band edges in a three-dimensional photonic crystal, PHYS REV B, 62(4), 2000, pp. R2247-R2250
We report on measurements of delay time corresponding to evanescent coupled
-cavity modes in three-dimensional photonic crystals. By creating a defect
inside the crystal, photons are confined within a boxlike cavity of volume
similar to(lambda/2)(3). It is observed that photon lifetime increases dras
tically and group velocity of photons tends towards zero at the waveguiding
band edges of the periodic coupled cavities. Experimental results are well
explained within the classical wave analog of the tight-binding picture. O
bservation of the extremely small group velocity and long photon lifetime a
t the coupled-cavity waveguide band edges have important potential applicat
ions.