Microstructural design of 2D and 3D photonic crystals via topology optimization

Photonic crystals are periodic microstructures composed of two or more materials with different electromagnetic properties. They can modulate light waves with specific wavelengths and generate unusual optical phenomena. The property of photonic crystals relies on the spatial distribution of material. This study develops a topology optimization approach to systematically design the microstructure of photonic crystals. Innovative 2D and 3D photonic crystal designs with maximized photonic band gaps, complete band gaps and, all-angle negative refraction ranges are obtained, the connection between their geometry characteristics and physical properties are analyzed.