A review on 1D photonic crystal based reflective optical limiters

All-optical limiting devices are based on materials enabling light to control light, possessing a nonlinear optical response, and are reviving their popularity. One-dimensional photonic crystals (1 D PhC) are an auspicious platform for achieving novel optical limiters functioning for remarkably low limiting threshold and high damage threshold over a wider regime. 1 D PhC, a periodic nanostructure with a refractive index distribution along one direction, has been widely investigated by researchers. However, their utility to limit the high-intensity radiation to protect sophisticated optical sensors and devices is scarce in the research field. An overview of the numerically simulated, mathematically modeled, theoretically proposed, and experimentally realized 1 D PhC reflective optical limiters are provided here. This review focuses on the limited but noteworthy scrutiny of 1 D photonic crystal-based optical limiters using rare earth metals, nanocomposites, semiconductors, and phase-changing materials as defect layers.

Automated summary

All-optical limiting devices, based on materials enabling light to control light, have a nonlinear optical response and are gaining popularity. One-dimensional photonic crystals (1D PhC) are a promising platform for achieving optical limiters with low limiting threshold and high damage threshold. However, their utility to protect optical sensors and devices is still limited.