Applications of the layer-KKR method to photonic crystals

A brief introduction of the layer-Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method for calcula tions of the frequency band structure of photonic crystals and of the trans mission and reflection coefficients of light incident on slabs of such crys tals is followed by two applications of the method. The first relates to th e frequency band structure of metallodielectric composites and demonstrates the essential difference between cermet and network topology of such compo sites at low frequencies. The second application is an analysis of recent m easurements of the reflection of light from a slab of a colloidal system co nsisting of latex spheres in air. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.