Tin Sulfide as a 1D Photonic Band-Gap Material for Visible and NIR

M. Deopura, C. Schuh and Y. Fink
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US

Keywords: omnidirectional reflector, photonic band gap, optical materials

Abstract:
We have demonstrated that tin sulfide is a suitable candidate as a higher refractive index material to develop 1-D photonic Band-Gap structures which operate in visible and NIR(850nm, 1550nm) frequency. An omnidirectional reflector consisting of nineteen alternating layers of tin sulfide and silica (lower refractive index material) has been fabricated with a characteristic length scale on the order of 100 nm. A refractive index contrast of 2.6/1.46, one of the highest refractive index contrast demonstrated till now in 1-D photonic band-gap systems designed for the visible frequency range. A refractive index contrast of 2.7/1.6 is achieved for the omnidirectional mirror encompassing the 850 nm communications wavelength. The tin sulfide-silica materials system so developed has allowed the formation of a broadband reflector with an omnidirectional range of 13% for visible frequency and 17% for 850 nm wavelength. This invention has opened the door to several new possibilities which include: efficient reflectors, high-frequency waveguides for communications and power delivery and high Q cavities

Nanotech 2004 Conference Technical Program Abstract