In- and out-of-plane propagation of electromagnetic waves in low index contrast two dimensional photonic crystals

Propagation of electromagnetic waves through a two-dimensional triangular l attice has been studied for different values of refractive index contrast b etween the constituent dielectrics, and for angles of incidence both in and out of the plane of periodicity. Transmission results have been obtained b oth experimentally and with the transfer matrix technique, and good agreeme nt has been found between the two. Comparison with band structure calculati ons has also been made. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.