Experimental investigation of photonic crystal waveguide devices and line-defect waveguide bends

Photonic crystal waveguide devices incorporating line-defect waveguide bends have been fabricated. In this paper we present preliminary experimental analysis of these structures. Although evidence of photonic band-gap effects are observed in the spectra, transmission efficiency was found to be extremely low due to significant up-scattering losses from the holes. In order to quantify this loss mechanism, a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of scattering effects in regular photonic crystal waveguide devices with band gaps at visible wavelength is presented. Field profiles in line defect structures are analysed using a FDTD (finite difference time domain) method.