Localization and wave guidance in photonic bandgap optical devices

Fadil Santosa, University of Minnesota

In its simplest form a photonic bandgap structure is a periodic medium
that supports wave propagation.  It is known that for some structures,
waves of certain frequencies cannot propagate.  These periodic media have
the remarkable property that they can produce localized waves or guided
waves when defects are introduced into it.  This attribute has opened
possibilities for creating photonic devices that can be used in optical
communication.  The talk will survey basics of photonic bandgap structures
and some of the devices that have been designed.  New results about wave
guidance will be presented.