Anomalous refractive properties of a two-dimensional photonic band-gap prism -: art. no. 115116

An analysis of the optical response of a triangular-shaped photonic band-gap prism is presented. Numerical simulations have been performed in the framework of multiple-scattering theory, which is applied considering spot illumination to avoid diffraction effects. First of all, refractive properties in the frequency range below the first TM band gap are analyzed and compared with the available experimental data. It validates the approach employed and supports the predictions obtained in the frequency range above the gap. At these high frequencies we found an unusual superprism effect characterized by an angle sensitivity and a frequency sensitivity of the intensity of outgoing beams. We report several representative examples that could be used in device applications. The results are interpreted in terms of the corresponding semi-infinite photonic crystal, through the analysis of the coupling between external radiation and bulk eigenmodes, using the two-dimensional-layer-Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method. The procedure presented here constitutes a simple but functional alternative to the methods used until now with the same purpose.