Absolute spectral gaps for infrared light and hypersound in three-dimensional metallodielectric phoxonic crystals

By means of full electrodynamic and elastodynamic multiple-scattering calculations we study the optical and acoustic properties of three-dimensional lattices of metallic nanospheres implanted in a dielectric host. Our results show that such structures exhibit omnidirectional spectral gaps for both telecom infrared light and hypersound, with relatively low absorptive losses. This class of dual (phoxonic) band-gap materials is an essential step toward the hypersonic modulation of light and could lead to the development of efficient acousto-optical devices. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3453448]