In- and out-of-plane propagation of electromagnetic waves in low index contrast two dimensional photonic crystals

Propagation of electromagnetic waves through a two-dimensional triangular lattice has been studied for different values of refractive index contrast between the constituent dielectrics, and for angles of incidence both in and out of the plane of periodicity. Transmission results have been obtained both experimentally and with the transfer matrix technique, and good agreement has been found between the two. Comparison with band structure calculations has also been made. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.