Control of high-order photonic band gaps in one-dimensional anodic alumina photonic crystals

One-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals based on porous anodic alumina are of high practical importance in modern materials science owing to their promising applications in the field of photonics. Although the positions of photonic band gaps can be controlled precisely by electric charge passed during the formation of repeating layers of anodic alumina, the methods for tuning the transmittance and reflectance within the photonic band gaps are limited. Here we demonstrate a simple and highly reproducible method for obtaining 1D anodic alumina photonic crystals with several reflecting layers in the unit cell. A theoretical model for the calculation of the optical properties of the prepared 1D anodic alumina photonic crystals is suggested and used for the design of an anodizing profile. The ability to tune the transmittance and reflectance within high-order photonic band gaps by controlling the position of the reflecting layers in the unit cell of the photonic crystal is demonstrated.