Zero permittivity band characteristics in one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystal

We consider the oblique propagation of electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystals, the superlattice structure consisting of alternating plasma and dielectric materials using transfer matrix method. Our results show that photonic band gaps for all polarizations can be obtained in one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystals. These structures can exhibit a new type of band or gap, for the incidence angles other than normal incidence, near frequencies where the electric permittivity of the plasma layer changes sign. This new band or gap arises, from the dispersive properties of the plasma layer, only for TM polarized waves and its width increases with the increasing angle of incidence. This differential behaviour under polarization can be utilized in the design of an efficient polarization splitter. The band characteristic is affected by the plasma width, the plasma density, dielectric width, the dielectric constant of the dielectric medium and angle of incidence.