Thermal radiation in 1D photonic crystals

Optical properties of periodic structures, or photonic crystals, have been studied extensively over the last two decades. While thermal radiation from surface grating structures has also been investigated, radiation inside a photonic crystal has not been investigated completely. We have developed a method to analyze thermal radiation in 1D periodic layered media using a modified dyadic Green's function method and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Using the method, thermal radiation between layers in periodic structures made of ultra-thin metallic films is analyzed. The unusual features of thermal radiation in such structures are explained.