Optical cavities and waveguides in hyperuniform disordered photonic solids

Abstract

Using finite-difference time domain and band structure computer simulations, we show that it is possible to construct optical cavities and waveguide architectures in hyperuniform disordered photonic solids that are unattainable in photonic crystals. The cavity modes can be classified according to the symmetry (monopole, dipole, quadrupole, etc.) of the confined electromagnetic wave pattern. Owing to the isotropy of the band-gap characteristics of hyperuniform disordered solids, high-quality waveguides with free-form geometries (e.g., arbitrary bending angles) can be constructed that are unprecedented in periodic or quasiperiodic solids. These capabilities have implications for many photonic applications. © 2013 American Physical Society.