One-dimensional tunable photonic crystals by means of external magnetic fields

We investigate in detail how photonic band structures of semiconductor-based photonic crystals will be tuned after being added an external magnetic field. It shows that due to the magneto-optical effects including Faraday effect and Voigt effect, the dielectric constant of the semiconductor is modified differently in different frequency ranges. As results, the photonic band structures and transmissive properties of the semiconductor-based photonic crystals are tuned correspondingly. Interestingly, wave transmission below the plasma frequency can be realized. This is shown by one-dimensional photonic crystals consisting of an intrinsic InSb layer and an air layer stacked alternately.