Periodic transmission peaks in non-periodic disordered one-dimensional photonic structures

• We studied disordered 1D photonic structures made with two and three materials.
• The structures are characterized by layers with the same optical thickness.
• In their transmission spectra regular peaks, with a transmission of 75%, arise.
• The regularity of the peaks is proportional to the optical thickness of the layers.

A better understanding of the optical properties of a device structure characterized by a random arrangement of materials with different dielectric properties at a length scale comparable to the wavelength of light is crucial for the realization of new optical and optoelectronic devices. Here we have studied the light transmission of disordered photonic structures made with two and three different materials, characterized by the same optical thickness. In their transmission spectra a formation of peaks, with a transmission of up to 75%, is evident. The spectral position of such peaks is very regular, which is a result of the constraint that all layers have the same optical thickness. This gives rise to a manifold of applications such as new types of bandpass filters and resonators for distributed feedback lasers.