One-dimensional photonic structure with multilayer random defect

• A random multilayer defect embedded between two dielectric mirrors is presented.
• Optical properties of a large number of the random defect permutations are studied.
• Random defect light transmission can be larger than the one of conventional defects.

A photonic structure composed of two dielectric mirrors with a random multilayer defect embedded is presented. Simulating the transmission spectra of 30,028 permutations of the random defect with the transfer matrix method, we have observed defect lines in the photonic bad gap region, with intensity and spectral position depending on the different permutations. We have compared their optical properties with the ones of two types of structures: (i) conventional defect and (ii) periodic multilayer defect photonic structures. We have noticed that about 15% of the random defect structures, showing very intense defect peaks in the photonic band gap region, exhibit total light transmission in such range of wavelengths that is higher with respect to the other structures. Moreover, random defect structures can show two defect lines with relatively high transmission maxima, in spite of the only one defect line or the two weak defect lines of the other multilayer sequences. These results can be interesting for the fabrication of one- or two-colour photonic crystal defect lasers, with an appropriate choice of random defect sequences and emitting media.