Abstract: Polystyrene colloidal crystals form three dimensional periodic dielectric structures which can be used for photonic band structure measurements in the visible regime. From transmission measurements the photonic band structure of an fcc crystal has been obtained along the directions between the L point and the W point. Kossel line patterns were used for locating the symmetry points of the lattice for exact positioning and orientation of the crystals. In addition, these patterns reveal the underlying photonic band structure of the crystals in a qualitative way.

(Copyright) 1996 The American Physical Society.
Rct Date:(Received 22 March 1995)
PACS:Type: E-Experimental. Year: 96. Class nos. 42.50.-p; 78.20.Ci; 81.10.Aj; 82.70.Dd
Country:US-United States
Keywords:Number: 07. BAND STRUCTURE; COLLOIDS; FCC LATTICES; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PERIODIC VARIATIONS; POLYSTYRENE; VISIBLE SPECTRA