title: Multilayer thin-film structures with high spatial dispersion.
abstract: We demonstrate how to design thin-film multilayer structures that separate multiple wavelength channels with a single stack by spatial dispersion, thus allowing compact manufacturable wavelength multiplexers and demultiplexers and possibly beam-steering or dispersion-control devices. We discuss four types of structure--periodic one-dimensional photonic crystal superprism structures, double-chirped structures exploiting wavelength-dependent penetration depth, coupled-cavity structures with dispersion that is due to stored energy, and numerically optimized nonperiodic structures utilizing a mixture of the other dispersion effects. We experimentally test the spatial dispersion of a 200-layer periodic structure and a 66-layer nonperiodic structure. Probably because of its greater design freedom, the nonperiodic structure can give both a linear shift with wavelength and a larger usable shift than the thicker periodic structure gives.
authors.affiliation: Edward L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4085, USA. gerken@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: David A B
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Miller