Superprism phenomena in artificial opals: a theoretical study

Summary form only given. We have studied dispersion properties of an artificial opal-like structure, a three-dimensional close-packed face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice of spherical dielectric balls. This periodic dielectric structure can be considered as a photonic crystal, which strongly modifies the propagation of electromagnetic radiation if the wavelength of radiation is of the order of the structures period. Interesting new phenomena are possible in photonic crystals. Full photonic bandgaps can be achieved, leading to the new physics as well as to some promising applications.