The sea mouse and the photonic crystal

Citation
Rc. Mcphedran et al., The sea mouse and the photonic crystal, AUST J CHEM, 54(4), 2001, pp. 241-244
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry
Journal title
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
ISSN journal
00049425 → ACNP
Volume
54
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
241 - 244
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-9425(2001)54:4<241:TSMATP>2.0.ZU;2-W
Abstract
Sea mice (Aphroditidae, Polychaeta) are furry-looking marine worms that for age on, or in, the sea-bed. They are distinguished by an amazing iridescenc e along the lower sides of the body, associated with both hairs and spines known as chaetae. We show by electron microscopic and optical analysis that the iridescence of spines is caused by a highly regular, sub-micron scale structure resembling that being developed for photonic crystals, and that i n fact the sea mouse exploits a partial photonic band gap to achieve its re markable coloration effects.