Butterfly photonics: Form and function

Abstract

Structural colours are the result of the interaction of light with physical structures, now generally termed photonic crystals, which are in the surface of a substratum. Such colours usually cause bright directional effects as opposed to chemical pigments, which scatter light diffusely. We have been aware of structural colours for some time, Newton (1704) having surmised in the early 16th century that they were responsible for the iridescence of male peacock tail feathers. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.