Abstract
We have observed multiple optical Bloch waves in a semiconductor photonic lattice. This photonic lattice comprises epitaxial quarter-wave periodic layers surrounding a periodic quantum-well region. After growth, the layers are structured laterally into periodic square unit cells by reactive-ion-beam etching. When photoexcited, the lattice emits a complex angular distribution of photons that reflects its periodic structure. Scattered light is distributed according to the Laue conditions in analogy with x-ray diffraction from a bulk crystal. Optical Bloch waves photostimulated in the lattice are analogous to electron Bloch waves in an atomic lattice. These optical Bloch waves exhibit long-range translational symmetry and local symmetry due to the shape of the unit cell. Interestingly, the far-field pattern of stimulated emission gives a direct mapping of the allowed Bloch wave vectors in the Brillouin zone. The mapping exhibits a wave-vector gap at the Bragg condition and may be associated with a photonic energy gap. In addition to measuring the intensity distribution of these Bloch waves, we directly measure the phase of the wave by polarization shearing interferometry.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2714-2716 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)