Optical characteristics of two-dimensional photonic crystals in anodic aluminum oxide films

The optical properties of two-dimensional photonic crystals (PhCs) in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) films obtained using a simple and low-cost pre-patterning procedure are described. The prepatterning of the initial Al film surface was carried out by imprinting with an optical diffraction grating; the anodization of the prepatterned sample led to the formation of a good quality, large-area PhC with a triangular lattice of air holes (lattice period a = 0.48 mum, hole radius r = 0.2 mum) in an AAO film. The optical transmission spectra of the sample were measured at visible wavelengths in the range of 0.4-1.0 mum for various incidence angles and linear polarizations of the probing light. The detailed analysis of the transmission data indicates a photonic band gap in the 0.9-1.0 mum wavelength range for light waves linearly polarized in the direction perpendicular to the axes of PhC pores.