Physical Approaches to the Design of Functional Metal-Dielectric Systems Based on Opals in Photonics

The possibilities of practical implementation of physical approaches to the design of metal-dielectric photonic crystal systems based on opals, which allow controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves, are shown. The implemented approaches are based on the effects of excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons capable of propagating along the metal-dielectric interface in plasmonic-photonic layered heterostructures, and modification of the photonic-energy structure of the nanocomposite as a result of dispersion of silver in the opal matrix. Experimental results are presented indicating the occurrence of extraordinary transmission and absorption of light in plasmonic-photonic heterostructures, as well as the asymmetric shape of curves in the reflection spectra of nanocomposites, which is associated with the Fano resonance.