Localization of light in photonic crystals of biological origin

Structures similar to those found on butterfly wings were produced holographically on thin layers of dichromated pullulan. Light propagation and scattering is studied in these nanometre periodic structures, and in the wings of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). We have found that the width of photonic band-gaps in each case is influenced by light localization (either weak or strong), due to certain amount of disorder. We have also measured experimentally characteristics of backscatter signal (amplitude and angular width) on wings of Apatura ilia butterfly as well as on Diachrysia chrysitis and Autographa bractea noctuid moths. It was found that both spectral and scattering characteristics of the artificial material could mimic those found in butterflies and moths.