Evolutionary algorithms converge towards evolved biological photonic structures.

Nature features a plethora of extraordinary photonic architectures that have been optimized through natural evolution in order to more efficiently reflect, absorb or scatter light. While numerical optimization is increasingly and successfully used in photonics, it has yet to replicate any of these complex naturally occurring structures. Using evolutionary algorithms inspired by natural evolution and performing particular optimizations (maximize reflection for a given wavelength, for a broad range of wavelength or maximize the scattering of light), we have retrieved the most stereotypical natural photonic structures. Whether those structures are Bragg mirrors, chirped dielectric mirrors or the gratings on top of Morpho butterfly wings, our results indicate how such regular structures might have spontaneously emerged in nature and to which precise optical or fabrication constraints they respond. Comparing algorithms show that recombination between individuals, inspired by sexual reproduction, confers a clear advantage that can be linked to the fact that photonic structures are fundamentally modular: each part of the structure has a role which can be understood almost independently from the rest. Such an in silico evolution also suggests original and elegant solutions to practical problems, as illustrated by the design of counter-intuitive anti-reflective coatings for solar cells.

Interferometric control of the absorption in optical patch antennas.

Optical patch nano-antennas possess unique absorption, field enhancement and concentration capabilities - but their crosssection, as well as their response outside of normal incidence are not well understood. Here we explain the large cross-section by considering that each patch nanoantenna is a cavity excited from both sides. Such a simple physical picture allows to fully understand the influence of the angle of incidence - that odd resonances have a very high absorption cross-section which decreases when the incidence angle increases, while even resonances cannot be excited in normal incidence. A direct application would be to use these structures as an optical nanometric set-square.

A universal design to realize a tunable perfect absorber from infrared to microwaves.

We propose a design for an universal absorber, characterized by a resonance frequency that can be tuned from visible to microwave frequencies independently of the choice of the metal and the dielectrics involved. An almost perfect absorption up to 99.8% is demonstrated at resonance for all polarization states of light and for a very wide angular aperture. These properties originate from a magnetic Fabry-Perot mode that is confined in a dielectric spacer of λ/100 thickness by a metamaterial layer and a mirror. An extraordinary large funneling through nano-slits explains how light can be trapped in the structure. Simple scaling laws can be used as a recipe to design ultra-thin perfect absorbers whatever the materials and the desired resonance wavelength, making our design truly universal.

Numerical tool to take nonlocal effects into account in metallo-dielectric multilayers.

We provide a numerical tool to quantitatively study the impact of nonlocality arising from free electrons in metals on the optical properties of metallo-dielectric multilayers. We found that scattering matrices are particularly well suited to take into account the electron response through the application of the hydrodynamic model. Though effects due to nonlocality are, in general, quite small, they, nevertheless, can be important for very thin (typically below 10 nm) metallic layers, as in those used in structures characterized by exotic dispersion curves. Such structures include those with a negative refractive index, hyperbolic metamaterials, and near-zero index materials. Higher wave vectors mean larger nonlocal effects, so that it is not surprising that subwavelength imaging capabilities of hyperbolic metamaterials are found to be sensitive to nonlocal effects. We find in all cases that the inclusion of nonlocal effects leads to at least a 5% higher transmission through the considered structure.

Lens equation for flat lenses made with hyperbolic metamaterials.

This study aims to give a general theory that enables the design of flat lenses based on hyperbolic metamaterials. We derive a lens equation that is demonstrated to involve the curvature of the dispersion relation. Guided by this theory, hyperbolic lenses of focal length ranging from zero to a few wavelength are simulated. High transmission efficiency is also obtained by reducing the amount of metal compared to the dielectric material.

Mesoscopic self-collimation and slow light in all-positive index layered photonic crystals.

We demonstrate a mesoscopic self-collimation effect in photonic crystal superlattices consisting of a periodic set of all-positive index 2D photonic crystal and homogeneous layers. We develop an electromagnetic theory showing that diffraction-free beams are observed when the curvature of the optical dispersion relation is properly compensated for. This approach allows us to combine slow-light regime together with self-collimation in photonic crystal superlattices presenting an extremely low filling ratio in air.

Large negative lateral shifts due to negative refraction.

When a thin structure in which negative refraction occurs (a metallo-dielectric structure or a photonic crystal) is illuminated by a beam, the reflected and transmitted beam can undergo a large negative lateral shift. This phenomenon can be seen as an interferential enhancement of the geometrical shift and can be considered a signature of negative refraction.

Self-collimation and focusing effects in zero-average index metamaterials.

One dimensional photonic crystals combining positive and negative index layers have shown to present a photonic band gap insensitive to the period scaling when the volume average index vanishes. Defect modes lying in this zero-n gap can in addition be obtained without locally breaking the symmetry of the crystal lattice. In this work, index dispersion is shown to broaden the resonant frequencies creating then a conduction band lying inside the zero-n gap. Self-collimation and focusing effects are in addition demonstrated in zero-average index metamaterials supporting defect modes. This beam shaping is explained in the framework of a beam propagation model by introducing an harmonic average index parameter.

Sub-wavelength light localization in nanorod chain enhances second-harmonic generation.

We demonstrate that nonlinear dielectric nanorod chains enhance the second-harmonic generation by taking advantage of subwavelength light confinement. We report a conversion efficiency higher than 10% for only 200 W input pump peak power in a 20 nanorod chain possessing a nonlinear susceptibility chi(2) = 10 pm/V. This giant frequency conversion is shown to originate from a lateral squeezing of the fundamental guided mode and from the combination of slow light at both frequencies omega and 2 omega. These results open an interesting route for the design of highly integrated efficient nonlinear devices.

Focusing of second-harmonic signals with nonlinear metamaterial lenses: a biphotonic microscopy approach.

Recent research on second-harmonic generation in left-handed materials has shown a light localization mechanism that originates from an all-angle phase-matching condition between counterpropagating electromagnetic modes at fundamental and double frequencies. By combining these properties with negative refraction, we propose in this Letter an original approach to the design of a second-harmonic lens. Numerical simulations demonstrate that feasible metamaterials can be tailored to operate in the visible range of frequency. These nonlinear lenses open an attractive solution for the biphotonic microscopy technique by imaging passive biological structures.

All-angle phase matching condition and backward second-harmonic localization in nonlinear photonic crystals.

We demonstrate an isotropic phase matching in properly designed nonlinear two-dimensional photonic crystals. In addition, by combining left- and right-handed properties at the fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies, we obtain a backward second-harmonic generation. These two properties lead to an unusual second-harmonic localization effect in perfect lattice photonic crystals.

Broadband single-mode waveguiding in two- and three-dimensional hybrid photonic crystals based on silicon inverse opals.

Hybrid 2D-3D heterostructures are a very promising way for waveguiding light in 3D photonic structures. Single-mode waveguiding of light has been demonstrated in heterostructures where a 2D photonic crystal consisting of a triangular lattice of silicon rods in air was intercalated between two silicon inverse opals. In this paper, we show that by using a graphite lattice of rods instead of a triangular one, it is possible to enlarge the maximal single-mode waveguiding bandwidth by more than 70 %, i.e. up to 129 nm centered on 1.55 mum. The sensibility to the 2D layer structure parameters is lower, offering enhanced experimental flexibility in the design of the structure.

Discontinuous wavelength super-refraction in photonic crystal superprism.

Experimental results on wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in InGaAsP triangular lattice planar photonic crystals are presented. An abrupt variation of the angular dispersion is observed for TM-polarized waves whose frequencies are comprised between those of the fourth and sixth allowed bands. According to the crystal period, the measured angle of refraction is found to either decrease or increase by 30 degrees within a wavelength range smaller than 30 nm. Experimental results are reproduced well from 2D finite difference time domain calculations. The observed phenomena are interpreted from the coupling of the incident light to different modes of the photonic crystal that travel with different group velocities and propagate in different directions within the crystal. Mode dispersion curves and mode patterns are calculated along with isofrequency curves to support this explanation. The observed discontinuous wavelength super-refraction opens a new approach to the application of superprisms.

Superlattice for photonic band gap opening in monolayers of dielectric spheres.

Dielectric spheres synthesized for the fabrication of self-organized photonic crystals such as opals offer large opportunities for the design of novel nanophotonic devices. In this paper, we show that a hexagonal superlattice monolayer of dielectric spheres exhibits an even photonic band gap below the light cone for refractive indices higher than 1.93. The use of spheres with refractive index 2.9 and diameter 0.33 mum tunes the photonic band gap to the telecommunications range (lambda=1.55 mum). As a practical example for the use of such a photonic band gap, we demonstrate the possibility of waveguiding light linearly through the monolayer.

Graded photonic crystals.

We present a concept of graded photonic crystals used to enhance the control of light propagation. Gradual modifications of the lattice periodicity make it possible to bend the light at the micrometer scale. This effect is tailored by parametric studies of the isofrequency curves. As a demonstration, we propose a two-dimensional graded photonic crystal that could provide frequency-selective tunable bending.

Second-harmonic superprism effect in photonic crystals.

By exploitation of the nonlinear optical properties of two-dimensional photonic crystals, a second-harmonic superprism effect is demonstrated. The anisotropy of the dispersion curves allows control of the propagation direction of the second-harmonic field. Smooth variations of the fundamental wavelength or the angle of incidence produce a drastic angular shift of the second-harmonic emission.