Light sources inside photonic crystals

Abstract

We have measured the optical fluorescence spectra of dye incorporated in high-quality photonic crystals made from colloids. The spectra reveal a stopgap that is due to Bragg reflection with strikingly reduced attenuation compared with plane-wave transmission. The modified attenuation is independent of the position of the sources in the sample and is brought about by diffuse scattering from defects near the surface. In the presence of a photonic bandgap, the diffuse component would disappear. Thus we have found a simple, unambiguous probe for the presence of photonic bandgaps.