Photonic band gaps in guided modes of textured metallic microcavities

We present a detailed study of the effect of periodic texture upon the dispersion of guided modes supported by a metal-clad microcavity, in the visible. Specifically, we look at how a periodic corrugation, a diffraction grating, produces a band gap in the propagation of such modes and how the central frequency of this band gap depends upon the propagation direction of the mode. We compare experimental results with those from a theoretical model and find good agreement. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.