Observation of optical Shockley-like surface states in photonic superlattices

We provide what we believe to be the first experimental demonstration of linear Shockley-like surface states in an optically induced semi-infinite photonic superlattice. Such surface states appear only when the induced superlattice consisting of alternating strong and weak bonds is terminated properly at the surface. Our experimental results are in good agreement with our theoretical analysis. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America