Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Omniguide Communications

Michael A Shapiro

Yoel Fink

Steven G Johnson

Mihai Ibanescu

Ori Weisberg

Chiping Chen

Richard J Temkin

Jagadishwar R Sirigiri

John Dimitris Joannopoulos

John D Joannopolous

Evgenya I Smirnova

A system and method for designing photonic band gap structures. The system and method provide a user with the capability to produce a model of a two-dimensional array of conductors corresponding to a unit cell. The model involves a linear equation. Boundary conditions representative of conditions at the boundary of the unit cell are applied to a solution of the Helmholtz equation defined for the unit cell. The linear equation can be approximated by a Hermitian matrix. An eigenvalue of the Helmholtz equation is calculated. One computation approach involves calculating finite differences. The model can include a symmetry element, such as a center of inversion, a rotation axis, and a mirror plane. A graphical user interface is provided for the user's convenience. A display is provided to display to a user the calculated eigenvalue, corresponding to a photonic energy level in the Brilloin zone of the unit cell.

Photonic band gap structure simulator

A vacuum electron device with a photonic bandgap structure that provides the ability to tune the behavior of the device to a particular mode of a plurality of modes of propagation. The photonic bandgap structure comprises a plurality of members, at least one of which is movable, and at least one of which is temperature controlled. The photonic bandgap structure makes possible the selection of one mode of propagation without the necessity to build structures having dimensions comparable to the wavelength of the propagation mode.

Vacuum electron device with a photonic bandgap structure and method of use thereof

A photonic crystal waveguide having multiple guided modes, the waveguide comprising: a dielectric confinement region surrounding a waveguide axis, the confinement region comprising a photonic crystal having at least one photonic band gap, during operation the confinement region guides EM radiation in a first range of frequencies to propagate along the waveguide axis; a dielectric core region extending along the waveguide axis and surrounded by the confinement region about the waveguide axis; and a mode coupling segment comprising at least one bend in the waveguide axis, wherein during operation the mode coupling segment converts EM energy in a first guided mode to a second guided mode with a conversion efficiency greater than 10% for a frequency in the first range of frequencies.

Electromagnetic mode conversion in photonic crystal multimode waveguides

A method for converting electromagnetic (EM) energy between guided modes of a photonic crystal waveguide having a waveguide axis, the method including: (i) providing the photonic crystal waveguide with a mode coupling segment comprising at least one bend in the waveguide axis, wherein during operation the mode coupling segment converts EM. energy in a first guided mode to a second guided mode; (ii) providing EM energy in the first guided mode of the photonic crystal waveguide; and (iii) allowing the EM energy in the first guided mode to encounter the mode coupling segment to convert at least some of the EM energy in the first guided mode to EM energy in the second guided mode.

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Marblehead, MA, United States of America

Michael A Shapiro