Study of one-dimensional nanolayered graded photonic crystal consisting of birefringent and dielectric materials

Abstract In the present paper, we have studied a comparison between dielectric-dielectric photonic crystal (PhC) and birefringent-dielectric PhC structure with, and without, gradation in the thickness of the layers of the proposed structure. Graded birefringent-dielectric PhC has a linear change in the thickness of the layers. With the help of the transfer matrix method, the proposed structures have been extensively investigated. It is found that photonic band gap (PBG) width and omnidirectional reflection band width has been widely enhanced, in graded birefringent-dielectric PhC structure as compared to the non-graded birefringent-dielectric PhC structure, for both TE and TM polarizations. We have also found that the gradation in the thickness of the birefringent layer is more effective, as compare the gradation in the thickness of the dielectric layer, for enhancement of reflection band width. The results obtained are quite good and thus, it may be widely used as broad band optical and omnidirectional reflector.