Two-dimensional photonic band-gap materials

The properties of 2D photonic lattices, and especially the presence of photonic band-gaps, are reviewed. Using symmetry arguments, general conditions on the nature of the eigenmodes for all 2D periodic dielectric lattices are derived. A method of computing photonic band-structures is briefly discussed. The in-plane band-structures of the square and triangular lattices of cylinders are systematically investigated. The out-of-plane band-structure for a prototypical system is described. Effects of periodicity-breaking are discussed, including localization of light due to lattice defects, and localized surface modes.