
- Chinese Optics Letters
- Vol. 21, Issue 6, 061301 (2023)
Abstract
1. Introduction
Photonic crystals (PCs)[1,2] [phononic crystals (PnCs)[3]] are artificial microstructures in which dielectric constants (density and elastic moduli) are arranged in periodic or quasi-periodic order. When electromagnetic waves (elastic waves) propagate inside PCs (PnCs), waves in a certain frequency region cannot propagate due to the internal structure, that is, a bandgap (BG) is formed. The BG can be changed and thus regulated by adjusting the material or structure of PCs (PnCs). PCs and PnCs offer broad application prospects in the fields of filters[4,5], isolators[6,7], sensors[8–10], lenses[11–14], resonators[15,16], lasers[17,18], etc.
Interface states can be used to regulate the propagation of waves, and they are widely applied in waveguide devices[19–21]. For PCs, the condition to realize interface states is that, in a common BG, there exists a frequency region where the sum of surface impedances is zero[22]. Based on this, one-dimensional (1D) interface states were realized[23], and then interface states were expanded to two-dimensional (2D) periodic square lattice PCs when two kinds of dielectric cylinders with the interchange of their materials of background and dielectric cylinders are arranged in mirror symmetry[24,25]. Further, interface states were expanded from straight-line to circular shape, which indicated the change in propagation direction to curved paths[26]. Thereafter, interface states were also realized in rectangular lattices[27]. PnCs possess the similar property of band manipulation to PCs, and interface states can also be realized in 1D periodic PnCs[28,29]. However, it was difficult to guarantee the complete translational symmetry of the structure in the actual preparation process. As a result, researchers introduced quasi-periodic structures and realized interface states in phononic quasi-crystals[30]. According to previous studies[19–31], most structures capable of realizing interface states can only allow the transmission of electromagnetic waves or elastic waves alone and thus the function of relevant devices is limited, especially structures without translational symmetry. In order to realize photonic and phononic interface states independently in the same nontranslationally symmetric crystal structure, construction of a workable structure is required. Photonic and phononic phenomena realized in the same structure are used in many devices, such as filters[32,33], microcavities[34,35], and sensors[36]. Combined electromagnetic and elastic waves can also be used for detecting nonmetallic buried objects[37], or creating optical isolation by means of elastic waves in an optical waveguide[38]. In order to enrich the function of interface states and reduce the cost of device preparation, it is urgent to research the achievement of photonic and phononic interface states independent of each other in the same structure, which can be used to carry different information, remove interferences, and retain useful signals.
In this study, photonic and phononic interface states were realized independently in the same crystal structure at the interface of two inverted square lattices (the materials of their background and cylinders were interchanged). By using the same material and structural parameters, the upper–lower and the inner–outer combination structures of sunflower-type crystals were constructed. When electromagnetic waves and elastic waves are incident, respectively, periodic modes propagating along the interface appear, which indicates that both photonic and phononic interface states can be realized independently in this structure. The interface states realized in sunflower-type crystals are possessed with good robustness and can be output from any angle.
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2. Structural Design and Theoretical Aspects
Sunflower-type PCs (PnCs) exhibit periodicity in circular direction, which can be regarded as the translational symmetry in a polar coordinate system. The position of each dielectric (elastic) cylinder can be expressed as follows:
Figure 1.The sunflower-type crystal and its combination structures. (a) Radius of crystal with glass as dielectric (elastic) cylinders, r1 = 0.5a; (b) radius of crystal with water as dielectric (elastic) cylinders, r2 = 0.3a; (c) upper–lower combination structure; (d) inner–outer combination structure. The parameters of glass (gray) and water (blue) are as follows: relative dielectric constant εr1 = 3.75 and εr2 = 78.5; bulk modulus K1 = 3.7 × 1010 and K2 = 2.2 × 109; density ρ1 = 2500 kg m−3 and ρ2 = 1000 kg m−3. The zoom-in schematics of these four structures are attached to the upper right corners.
Sensors and optical fiber devices based on sunflower-type crystals exhibit fascinating characteristics, such as high sensitivity and high propagation efficiency[39]. Moreover, sunflower-type PCs and PnCs also show good application prospects in lasers[40], microcavities[41], curved waveguides[42], and one-way rotating state devices[43]. The realization of interface states in sunflower-type crystals can expand their application fields.
In structures with translational symmetry, two types of PCs need to have a common BG to realize interface states. Within the common BG, there must be a region satisfying the condition that the sum of surface impedances is zero.
That is,
The interface of two PCs is marked as
When the imaginary part of the surface impedance is negative (positive), the surface impedance decreases (increases) monotonically from zero (positive infinity) to negative infinity (zero) with the increase in the frequency. Based on this, when imaginary parts of surface impedances in the common BG of two PCs are opposite (one is positive and the other is negative), there must be a certain frequency where the sum of surface impedances is zero [Eq. (2)], that is, a deterministic interface state is generated[24]. Therefore, to verify the generation of interface states, the imaginary part of the surface impedance of each BG should be obtained.
PCs and PnCs exhibit high similarities in the manipulation of bands; thus the interface states in PnCs need to satisfy the condition of surface impedance[28–30]. Based on the theory of surface impedance, deterministic interface states in PCs with translational symmetry can be realized by combining inverted PCs. Similarly, interface states can also be realized when inverted PnCs are combined. Therefore, under the same material and structural parameters, photonic and phononic interface states can be realized independently in the same structure. By combining these two inverted PCs (PnCs), the interface state can be generated in the common BG.
Based on previous studies[22,44], imaginary parts of surface impedances of two adjacent BGs are related to the Zak phase of the band between them, which can be expressed as follows:
3. Results and Discussion
In order to find appropriate parameters that could be applied in sunflower-type crystals, photonic and phononic interface states in the same square lattice were first realized independently. In Fig. 2, the combination structures of two kinds of square lattice [one with glass as dielectric (elastic) cylinders and the other with water as dielectric (elastic) cylinders] are calculated, with the radius shown in Fig. 1. For the square lattice PCs with glass (water) as dielectric cylinders and water (glass) as background, the projected band structures are the green (blue) color lines, as shown in Fig. 2(a). An additional band appears at the common BG when these two types of PCs are combined into a complete structure. The same phenomenon occurs with PnCs shown in Fig. 2(b). This indicates that, in the original frequency range where waves cannot propagate in these two types of PCs (PnCs), a propagable state is generated after combination. This is denoted as the interface state and it is shown as red lines in Fig. 2. The results indicate that the interface state of square lattice PCs is generated in the region of
Figure 2.Projected band structures. Interface states are expressed in red lines, and bands of square lattice are expressed in green lines [with glass as dielectric cylinders in (a) and elastic cylinders in (b)] and blue lines [with water as dielectric cylinders in (a) and elastic cylinders in (b)]: (a) PCs; (b) PnCs.
Figure 3.Electric field (sound pressure field) distribution when electromagnetic (elastic) waves propagate in the combined structure of two types of PCs (PnCs). (a) PCs at f = 30.6 GHz; (b) PnCs at f = 0.96 MHz. The material of bigger cylinders is glass, and the background material is water. The material of smaller cylinders is water, and the background material is glass. The parameters of glass and water are shown in Fig.
The electric field and sound pressure field are distributed periodically along the boundary and decay rapidly on both sides of the boundary. It indicates that the photonic and phononic interface states are realized independently in this square lattice structure. The advantages of propagation are reflected.
In this study, material and structural parameters in a square lattice were applied to the upper–lower and inner–outer combination structures of sunflower-type crystals. Then the transmission spectra, electric field, and sound pressure field distributions were calculated to analyze the realization of straight-line and circular interface states in sunflower-type PCs and PnCs.
When the upper–lower combination structure of sunflower-type crystals is constructed according to Fig. 1(c) and electromagnetic waves are incident on the left port, the structure is used as PCs. When incident waves are elastic waves, the structure is used as PnCs. In order to find out whether interface states can exist in the upper–lower combination structure of sunflower-type crystals, we calculated the transmission spectra of two types of sunflower-type crystals, respectively, and the upper–lower combination structure of the sunflower-type crystals.
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The transmission spectra of PCs and PnCs are shown in Fig. 4. Figure 4(a) demonstrates that when electromagnetic waves are incident, this structure is used as PCs. BGs of two types of sunflower-type PCs are
Figure 4.Transmission spectra of models shown in Figs.
The result indicates that some propagable states are generated after combination, that is, interface states are generated. The propagation constant
Figure 5.Considering Fig.
Figure 6.Transmission spectra of models shown in Fig.
As shown in Fig. 6, transmission peaks appear in the region of
Figure 7.Considering Fig.
In the application process of PCs and PnCs, due to the limitations of the preparation technology or the loss in the use process, the crystal structure may be incomplete, defective, or obstructed. Therefore, we explored the formation of interface states of the inner–outer combination structure of sunflower-type crystals with a defect and a metal barrier, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
Figure 8.Transmission spectra of PCs and PnCs with a defect and a metal barrier. (a) PCs; (b) PnCs.
Figure 9.Field distributions of the inner–outer combination structure of sunflower-type crystals with (a), (b) a defect and (c), (d) a metal barrier. (a) Electric field of PCs at f = 30.54 GHz; (b) sound pressure field of PnCs at f = 0.96 MHz; (c) electric field of PCs at f = 30.54 GHz; (d) sound pressure field of PnCs at f = 0.96 MHz.
The transmission spectra of PCs and PnCs with a defect and a metal barrier are shown in Fig. 8. Irrespective of defect (represented by red lines) or metal barrier (represented by blue lines), transmission peaks exist in the region of
As shown in Figs. 9(a) and 9(b), when a dielectric (an elastic) cylinder is removed from the crystal, the completeness is damaged, while the electromagnetic (elastic) waves can still propagate along the interface. That is to say, interface states are almost undamaged. When a metal barrier is inserted at the interface of the crystal, the barrier cannot prevent the formation of interface states, as shown in Figs. 9(c) and 9(d). The transmission spectra and field distributions show that interface states possess good robustness.
Sunflower-type crystals can make interface states realized as a circular shape, which allows electromagnetic waves or elastic waves to be output from any angle when the input port is determined. The results shown in Fig. 10 are output from angles of 120°, 90°, and 60°, respectively. To achieve the same angular output in square lattices, it is necessary to use straight waveguides with obtuse, right, and acute angles, which may cause greater loss when waves propagate through these angles and even destroy interface states.
Figure 10.Field distributions of output from angles of 120°, 90°, and 60°. (a) Electric field of PCs at f = 30.54 GHz; (b) sound pressure field of PnCs at f = 0.96 MHz.
4. Conclusion
Based on the material and structural parameters that could realize photonic and phononic interface states independently in the same square lattice, interface states in PCs and PnCs were realized independently in the upper–lower and inner–outer combination structures of sunflower-type crystals. For these crystal types, materials of background and dielectric (elastic) cylinders were interchanged, which enabled the independent realization of straight-line or circular photonic and phononic interface states in the same sunflower-type crystals. These interface states are possessed with good robustness and can be output from any angle. This result can expand the function of waveguides, filters, isolators, and so on, realizing the dual use of devices and reducing the cost of production.
References
[37] W. Scott, J. Martin. An experimental model of an acousto-electromagnetic sensor for detecting land mines. Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium(1998).
[44] J. Zak. Berry’s phase for energy bands in solids. Phys. Rev. Lett., 62, 2747(1989).

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