Abstract

It is known that periodic structures have forbidden frequency bands (or band gaps) where optical propagation cannot occur. However, general interest has been focused on the propagation in periodic media with modulation along only one axis, such as diffraction gratings, central filters, distributed feedback lasers, and gratings written in optical fibers. It is possible for a 3-D periodic medium to have a 3-D band gap so that the propagation of certain frequencies would be strictly forbidden in all directions. This phenomenon leads to the inhibition of spontaneous emission' and strong photon localization.²

© 1990 Optical Society of America