Finite element analysis of out-of-plane propagation in two-dimensional photonic crystals

The analysis of two dimensional photonic crystals in the literature have been mainly conducted in the case of propagation of the electromagnetic wave in the plane perpendicular to the axis along which the crystal is uniform. However, to develop practical applications of such material is necessary to evaluate and understand also its out-of-plane bandstructure. To this end, a three-dimensional finite element analysis has been carried out and some practical structures have been analyzed.