M. Bayindir et al., Propagation of light through localized coupled-cavity modes in one-dimensional photonic band-gap structures, APPL PHYS A, 72(1), 2001, pp. 117-119
We report on the observation of a new type of propagation mechanism through
evanescent coupled optical cavity modes in one-dimensional photonic crysta
ls. The crystal is fabricated from alternating silicon-oxide/silicon-nitrid
e pairs with silicon-oxide cavity layers. We achieved nearly full transmiss
ion throughout the guiding band of the periodic coupled cavities within the
photonic band gap. The tight-binding (TB) parameter kappa is determined fr
om experimental results, and the dispersion relation, group velocity and ph
oton lifetime corresponding to the coupled-cavity structures are analyzed w
ithin the TB approximation. The measurements are in good agreement with tra
nsfer-matrix-method simulations and predictions of the TB photon picture.