Tunable multichannel drop filters based on the two-dimensional photonic crystal with oval defects

Light propagation through the channel filter based on the two-dimensional photonic crystals with oval-rod defects is studied by the finite-difference time-domain method. In addition to the traditional size tuning, shape alteration of the defects from the usual circle to the ellipse offers a powerful approach to tune the resonant frequency of channel-drop filters based on two-dimensional photonic crystals. It is found that the resonant frequency can be flexibly adjusted only by changing the orientation angle of the oval defects. The sensitivity of the resonant frequency to the alteration of the oval rods’ rotation angle is systematically studied. Because the rotation angles of the ellipse can be continuously adjusted, so the channel drop filter based on this kind of defects with different rotation angles is more suitable to the occasion where a large number of output channel filters is need.