Software speeds measurement and modeling of air-silica photonic crystals

The keys to the eventual success of photonic crystals as a platform for integrated photonics lie in the exploration of new materials, the incorporation of additional functionality, and the close interaction in research labs among fabrication, measurement and modeling. Research at the Center for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (Cudos) at the University of Sydney (Australia) exemplifies these three aspects and is enabled by a software simulation program. The group at Cudos concentrates on air-silica photonic crystals through novel uses of photonic crystal fibers. Flame-brushing techniques are being used to taper the fibers to as little as 10 percent of their original diameters.