Transmittance spectra in one-dimensional superconductor-dielectric photonic crystal

Transmission characteristics at visible light range in a one-dimensional superconductor-dielectric photonic crystal have been numerically analyzed based on the finite element method using COMSOL RF module. The two-fluid model and wavelength-dependent dispersion formula were adopted to describe the optical response of the low temperature superconducting system. The simulation results clearly reveal a cutoff frequency or a photonic band gap that can be manipulated through the thicknesses of the superconductor and dielectric layers as well as the ambient temperature of the system. It is observed that the shift of cutoff frequency becomes more noticeable by adjusting the thickness of the superconductor layer than that of the dielectric one. Furthermore, the cutoff frequency becomes very sensitive when the system temperature is tuned to close vicinity of the critical temperature of the superconductor. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3362935]