Dual-band infrared single-layer metallodielectric photonic crystals

Metallodielectric photonic crystals (MDPCs) consisting of periodic arrays of self-similar two-stage fractal patch metallic elements patterned on thin dielectric substrates are shown to exhibit excellent mid- and far-infrared dual-band response in a single layer structure. This was achieved by optimizing the element size and interelement spacing of cross-dipole and square-patch fractal elements using full-wave periodic method of moments modeling techniques that calculate electromagnetic scattering from the MDPC surface and are able to account for material loss and loading effects. All structures fabricated based on these designs had two measured stopbands with greater than 10 dB attenuation positioned at wavelengths determined by element geometry and size as well as interelement spacing. This simple single layer fractal MDPC geometry will facilitate further scaling into the near-IR wavelength regime. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.