Iridescence from photonic crystals and its suppression in butterfly scales.
Regular three-dimensional periodic structures have been observed in the scales of over half a dozen butterfly species. We compare several of these structures: we calculate their photonic bandgap properties; measure the angular variation of the reflection spectra; and relate the observed iridescence (or its suppression) to the structures. We compare the mechanisms for iridescence suppression in different species and conclude with some speculations about form, function, development and evolution.
Poladian
Leon
L
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. l.poladian@maths.usyd.edu.au
Wickham
Shelley
S
Lee
Kwan
K
Large
Maryanne C J
MC
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002080:Butterflies / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D013045:Species Specificity; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000502:physiology*