Photonic crystals: towards nanoscale photonic devices

Just like the periodical crystalline potential in solid state crystals determines their properties for the conduction of electrons, the periodical structuring of photonic crystals leads to envisioning the possibility of achieving a control of the photon flux in dielectric and metallic materials.

The use of photonic crystals as cages for storing, filtering or guiding light at the wavelength scale paves the way to the realization of optical and optoelectronic devices with ultimate properties and dimensions. This will contribute towards meeting the demands for greater miniaturization imposed by the processing of an ever increasing number of data.

Photonic Crystals will provide students and researchers from different fields with the theoretical background required for modelling photonic crystals and their optical properties, while at the same time presenting the large variety of devices, ranging from optics to microwaves, where photonic crystals have found application. As such, it aims at building bridges between optics, electromagnetism and solid state physics.

Photonic Crystals was written by six specialists of nanophotonics, with the contribution of a specialist in optical fibres. This second edition was prepared to include the most recent developments of two-dimensional photonic crystal devices, as well as some of the last results reported on metamaterials. The work was coordinated by Jean-Michel Lourtioz, head of the Institut d'Électronique Fondamentale in Orsay.