Metallic photonic crystals at optical wavelengths

We theoretically study three-dimensional metallic photonic-band-gap (PBG) m aterials at near-infrared and optical wavelengths. Our main objective is to find the importance of absorption in the metal and the suitability of obse rving photonic band gaps in this structure. For that reason, we study simpl e cubic structures and the metallic scatterers are either cubes or intercon nected metallic rods. Several different metals have been studied (aluminum, gold, copper, and silver). Copper gives the smallest absorption and alumin um is more absorptive. The isolated metallic cubes are less lossy than the connected rod structures. The calculations suggest that isolated copper sca tterers are very attractive candidates for the fabrication of photonic crys tals at the optical wavelengths.