Abstract: Fluorescent dyes or quantum dots may be embedded in a dielectric volume of appropriate dimensions where typically half the surface of the dielectric volume is covered by a metal coating allow for increased absorption and emission efficiencies. Alternatively, fluorescent dyes or quantum dots may be attached to metal coated dielectric shapes using the appropriate chemistries.

Abstract: The directionality of organic light emitting diodes is improved by the introduction of a patterned metal electrode as either the anode or the cathode.

Abstract: A photonic crystal structure is formed in an n-type layer of a III-nitride light emitting device. In some embodiments, the photonic crystal n-type layer is formed on a tunnel junction. The device includes a first layer of first conductivity type, a first layer of second conductivity type, and an active region separating the first layer of first conductivity type from the first layer of second conductivity type. The tunnel junction includes a second layer of first conductivity type and a second layer of second conductivity type and separates the first layer of first conductivity type from a third layer of first conductivity type. A photonic crystal structure is formed in the third layer of first conductivity type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing with metal optical filters. Metal optical filters exhibit cut-off frquency behavior which may be used to sense the presence of materials, even in very small amounts.

Abstract: A photonic crystal optical temperature measuring system and a method for measuring the temperature of an object. The photonic crystal optical temperature measuring system has at least one photonic crystal temperature sensor having a resonant cavity, the resonant frequency of which is a function of the temperature of the resonant cavity.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes a photonic crystal structure that is a lattice of holes in the semiconductor layers. The photonic crystal structure includes multiple lattices. In some embodiments, the device includes a first lattice formed on a first region of the semiconductor layers and a second lattice formed on a second region of the semiconductor layers. The parameters of the first lattice may be selected to maximize the total radiated power from the device. The parameters of the second lattice may be selected to maximize the light extraction into a 30° cone on a surface of the stack.

Abstract: A two-dimensional photonic crystal resonator apparatus in which the power of light coupled out of the apparatus in one direction is greater than the power of light coupled out of the apparatus in the opposite direction The apparatus has a photonic crystal slab waveguide structure having a waveguide and a resonator in the vicinity of the waveguide such that light propagated through the waveguide is extracted from the waveguide through the resonator and is coupled out of the plane of the apparatus. The apparatus has upper and lower cladding layers on the photonic crystal slab waveguide structure having different indices of refraction, and the power of light coupled out of the apparatus in the direction of the cladding layer having the higher index of refraction is greater than the power of the light coupled out of the apparatus in the direction of the cladding layer having the lower index of refraction.

Abstract: A concentration of particles or a single particle may be detected using a conducting cavity sensor. The conducting cavity sensor includes a two dimensional periodic lattice of conducting rods surrounded by a dielectric medium with a defect in the periodic lattice serving as the sensing volume.

Abstract: A two-dimensional photonic crystal resonator apparatus in which the power of light coupled out of the apparatus in one direction is greater than the power of light coupled out of the apparatus in the opposite direction The apparatus has a photonic crystal slab waveguide structure having a waveguide and a resonator in the vicinity of the waveguide such that light propagated through the waveguide is extracted from the waveguide through the resonator and is coupled out of the plane of the apparatus. The apparatus has upper and lower cladding layers on the photonic crystal slab waveguide structure having different indices of refraction, and the power of light coupled out of the apparatus in the direction of the cladding layer having the higher index of refraction is greater than the power of the light coupled out of the apparatus in the direction of the cladding layer having the lower index of refraction.

Abstract: Photonic crystal sensors may be created from two and three dimensional photonic crystals by introducing defects. The localization of the optical field in the defect region affords the ability to sense small volumes of analyte.

Abstract: A photonic crystal sensor adapted for single nanoparticle detection is disclosed. Very small single particles and single molecules may be detected. The sensors may be adapted to allow differential measurements.

Abstract: A modulator having a waveguide and a microdisk resonator is disclosed. The waveguide has an input port for receiving a light signal of wavelength ? and an output port for transmitting modulated light. The microdisk resonator has a resonance at ? and is coupled to the waveguide between the input and output ports such that at least 10 percent of the light traveling in the waveguide is coupled to the microdisk resonator. The microdisk resonator further includes a material having a first state and a second state, the material absorbing more of the light in the first state than in the second state. The first and second states are selectable by a signal that is applied to the microdisk resonator. In one embodiment, the waveguide and the microdisk resonator occupy different portions of a sheet of material having the various layers used to construct the resonator.

Abstract: A photonic crystal structure is formed in an n-type layer of a III-nitride light emitting device. In some embodiments, the photonic crystal n-type layer is formed on a tunnel junction. The device includes a first layer of first conductivity type, a first layer of second conductivity type, and an active region separating the first layer of first conductivity type from the first layer of second conductivity type. The tunnel junction includes a second layer of first conductivity type and a second layer of second conductivity type and separates the first layer of first conductivity type from a third layer of first conductivity type. A photonic crystal structure is formed in the third layer of first conductivity type.

Abstract: A modulator having a waveguide and a microdisk resonator is disclosed. The waveguide has an input port for receiving a light signal of wavelength ? and an output port for transmitting modulated light. The microdisk resonator has a resonance at ? and is coupled to the waveguide between the input and output ports such that at least 10 percent of the light traveling in the waveguide is coupled to the microdisk resonator. The microdisk resonator further includes a material having a first state and a second state, the material absorbing more of the light in the first state than in the second state. The first and second states are selectable by a signal that is applied to the microdisk resonator. In one embodiment, the waveguide and the microdisk resonator occupy different portions of a sheet of material having the various layers used to construct the resonator.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic crystal add-drop filter apparatus has a three-dimensional photonic crystal, a first waveguide for transmitting light having a frequency within a bandgap of the three-dimensional photonic crystal, and a second waveguide. A resonant cavity couples the light in the first waveguide to the second waveguide for extracting at least one wavelength of the light transmitted in the first waveguide and redirecting the extracted light to the second waveguide. The apparatus has a full three-dimensional bandgap and thus does not require total internal reflection to confine the light as is required in a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab. The waveguides can be made single mode such that only one polarization is allowed to propagate thus avoiding mixing of the two polarizations.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide apparatus has a three-dimensional photonic crystal, the three-dimensional photonic crystal having a plurality of layers arranged one above another, each of the plurality of layers having a plurality of elements that are parallel to and spaced from one another, the plurality of elements in each layer arranged at an angle other than zero with respect to the plurality of elements in an adjacent layer. The three-dimensional photonic crystal also has a waveguide therein comprising a first region of defects in a segment of an element in one layer of the plurality of layers and having a light input, and a second region of defects in at least a segment of an element in an adjacent layer of the plurality of layers and having two light outputs, the first and second region of defects intersecting to provide an optical splitter that extends from the one layer to the adjacent layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic crystal add-drop filter apparatus has a three-dimensional photonic crystal, a first waveguide for transmitting light having a frequency within a bandgap of the three-dimensional photonic crystal, and a second waveguide. A resonant cavity couples the light in the first waveguide to the second waveguide for extracting at least one wavelength of the light transmitted in the first waveguide and redirecting the extracted light to the second waveguide. The apparatus has a full three-dimensional bandgap and thus does not require total internal reflection to confine the light as is required in a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab. The waveguides can be made single mode such that only one polarization is allowed to propagate thus avoiding mixing of the two polarizations.

Abstract: A directional antenna made with photonic band gap structures has been presented. The directional antenna is formed with two photonic band gap structures oriented back to back and separated from each other by a distance to form a resonant cavity between the photonic band gap structures. An antenna element is placed in the resonant cavity. The resonant frequency of the cavity is tuned by adjusting the distance between the photonic band gap structures. The resonant cavity can be asymmetrical or symmetrical.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing photonic band gap structures operable in the optical spectrum has been presented. The method comprises the steps of creating a patterned template for an elastomeric mold, fabricating an elastomeric mold from poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or other suitable polymer, filling the elastomeric mold with a second polymer such as epoxy or other suitable polymer, stamping the second polymer by making contact with a substrate or multilayer structure, removing the elastomeric mold, infiltrating the multilayer structure with ceramic or metal, and heating the multilayer structure to remove the second polymer to form a photonic band gap structure.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide apparatus has a three-dimensional photonic crystal, the three-dimensional photonic crystal having a plurality of layers arranged one above another, each of the plurality of layers having a plurality of elements that are parallel to and spaced from one another, the plurality of elements in each layer arranged at an angle other than zero with respect to the plurality of elements in an adjacent layer. The three-dimensional photonic crystal also has a waveguide therein comprising a first region of defects in a segment of an element in one layer of the plurality of layers and having a light input, and a second region of defects in at least a segment of an element in an adjacent layer of the plurality of layers and having two light outputs, the first and second region of defects intersecting to provide an optical splitter that extends from the one layer to the adjacent layer.