meta-atoms into a structure creating a metamaterial [1]. Such a metamaterial can have optical properties which can be adapted to a certain requirement. To make a Negative index metamaterial, NIM, the requirement is that the refractive index, n, should be negative. By building certain shapes of meta-atom the permeability, µ, and permittivity, ԑ, of the metamaterial can in theory be chosen. From a construction point of view there are two branches of metamaterials which are 2D and 3D NIMs, and the construction
Photonics Lab Introduction In the world of communication, lasers can be very helpful in transporting a variety of information across the planet. In this experiment, we decided to advance our knowledge about lasers and perform more tedious activities with them. Instead of shooting lasers through a gelatin substance and reading angles in which they reflect, we were going to step it up a bit. This time our final goal was to be able to verbally communicate through space using a laser. Photonics is
Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Why silicon integrated photonics? The observation by Gordon Moore in 1965 (now universally referred to as Moore’s law) that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit would double every couple of years has become a beacon that continues to drive the electronics industry [1]. Integrated circuits have grown exponentially from the 30-transistor devices of 1965 to today’s high-end microprocessors exceeding 500 million transistors integrated on a silicon chip the
Photonic Band Gap Materials:  A little history behind Photonic Band Gap materials (PBG)? In 1987, an American physicist and engineer named Eli Yablonovitch and Canadian physics professor from the University of Toronto Canada, Sajeev John constructed artificial structures that then became the concept of PBG material. In order to evaluate this concept they created a 3D prototype diamond lattice in Plexiglas, which is a type of acrylic glass material. With this creation they were able
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Photonic Crystals Motivation In the last few decades, a new frontier has opened up due to tremendous advancement of semiconductor technology which have brought incredible changes to our society and the life of people. The aim has become to control the optical properties of materials. A massive range of technological developments become possible by engineering of such materials that respond to light waves over a desired range of frequencies. They can perfectly reflect the