Photonic structures and their application are one of the most intensively studied areas of modern optics. They are used in devices such as blue lasers, optical fibres or optical add-drop multiplexers. The paper describes the possibility of designing the photonic structure of the optical demultiplexer using the application written by the authors

Dziatkiewicz, Grzegorz

Młynarczyk, Przemysław

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PRZEMYSŁAW MŁYNARCZYK*,  GRZEGORZ DZIATKIEWICZ**
NUMERICAL MODELLING OF THE OPTICAL 
DEMULTIPLEXER PHOTONIC STRUCTURES
MODELOWANIE NUMERYCZNE STRUKTUR 
FOTONICZNYCH OPTYCZNEGO DEMULTIPLEKSERA
A b s t r a c t
Photonic structures and their application are one of the most intensively studied areas of modern optics. 
They are used in devices such as blue lasers, optical fibres or optical add-drop multiplexers. The paper 
describes the possibility of designing the photonic structure of the optical demultiplexer using the 
application written by the authors.
Keywords: photonic crystals, optical demultiplexer, numerical modelling
S t r e s z c z e n i e
Kryształy fotoniczne oraz ich zastosowania są jednymi z najintensywniej badanych obszarów współczesnej 
optyki. Znajdują zastosowanie w takich urządzeniach jak niebieskie lasery, światłowody fotoniczne czy 
optyczne multipleksery sumująco-selekcjonujące. Artykuł opisuje możliwość projektowania struktury 
fotonicznej optycznego demultipleksera przy zastosowaniu napisanej przez autorów aplikacji.
Słowa kluczowe: kryształy fotoniczne, optyczny demultiplekser, modelowanie numeryczne
∗ M.Sc. Eng. Przemysław Młynarczyk, Institute of Thermal and Process Engineering, Faculty 
of Mechanical Engineering, Cracow University of Technology.
** PhD. Eng. Grzegorz Dziatkiewicz, Institute of Computational Mechanics and Engineering, Faculty 
of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology.
176
1. Introduction
The concept of photonic crystals was formed at the same time in 1987 in two research 
centres in the USA. One of the first scientists who dealt with photonic structures was Eli 
Yablonovitch from Bell Communications Research in New Jersey who was working on the 
materials for photonic transistors. The second one was Sajeev John from Princeton University 
who was working on increasing the efficiency of lasers used in telecommunication. Both 
scientists discovered and formulated the concept of photonic band gap which became the 
basis of this structures applicability. In the 1991 Yablonovith created the first photonic crystal 
and in 1997 a method of mass production of these structures was developed [1]. A natural 
prototype of the photonic crystal is an opal, a mineral derived from the cluster of silicates, 
found in many places around the world including Poland, mainly in the lower Silesia 
where the former was located in nickel ore mines, and which is a component of green opals 
(chrysoprases). Nowadays an intensive study of photonic structures are conducted which 
reveals more and more new applications. The paper shows the application of numerical 
calculations for designing a optical photonic demultiplexer. The Helmholtz equation of 
electromagnetic propagation in the one-dimensional heteregenous photonic structure is 
solved numerically to obtain the transmittance characteristics. The resultant complex linear 
system of equations gives complex amplitudes of the incident and reflected waves on each 
interlayer. The written computer code allows to perform the basic design of the various 1D 
photonic structures.
2. Photonic structures
The photonic crystal is a periodic structure composed of different dielectric materials. 
By changing the differences between the refractive indices of materials the effect of 
“trapping” different wavelengths of light can be achieved, this phenomenon is called 
the photonic band gap. In general, the properties of the photonic crystal depend on the 
size, number of layers, the geometry and individual properties of the materials forming 
the crystal. There are three structures of photonic crystals: one-, two-, and three- 
dimensional. In the modelling of the electromagnetic field in the photonic crystal many 
methods known in the optics or electrodynamics are used. For example: the plane wave 
method and the finite difference time domain method, which are used for solving the 
time-dependent Maxwell equations of both electric and magnetic fields, the moments 
method and its numerous varieties as well as semi-analytical and analytical methods. So 
far, the analytical solutions of Maxwell’s equations were found only for the simplest one-
dimensional photonic crystal [3, 4].
2.1. One-dimensional photonic crystals 
The simplest example of a one-dimensional photonic structure is the form of periodic 
multi-layer dielectric stacks called the Bragg mirror as it is shown in Fig 1. 
177
If the electromagnetic wave with a ω frequency drops on such a structure, a part of the 
wave energy is reflected. This property is used in typical signal filters. Bragg mirrors are 
designed with respect to the reflection spectrum for a selected wavelength range. So designing 
one-dimensional photonic crystals is a process of an appropriate selection of a number of 
layers, their thickness and materials with appropriate refractive indices. One-dimensional 
photonic crystals are used in such systems like optical demultiplexers, optical filters, the so 
called: “blue lasers”, ultra-white pigments, photonic semiconductors etc.
2.2. Two-dimensional photonic crystals 
Light propagating in the two-dimensional photonic crystal can be separated into two 
independent polarized waves, for which there is no longer a common photonic band gap. 
Trapping or controlling photons is possible by the use of two-dimensional forbidden gaps in 
the expected direction of wave propagation and by obtaining a high refractive index in the 
perpendicular direction. Two-dimensional photonic structures may become the most important 
component of modern optical technology. Integration of these structures with electronic systems 
is crucial for constructing a new generation of computers based on electro-optical chips.
Nowadays the most popular use of this type of photonic structures are optical add-drop 
filters which are a combination of two devices: multiplexer and demultiplexer. The main 
feature of such a filter is to isolate (drop) a band of an electromagnetic wave (EM) or the 
addition (add) band of the EM wave to the desired light beam. Two dimensional structures 
are mainly produced by using two-dimensional lithographic [5].
2.3. Three-dimensional photonic crystals 
Three-dimensional photonic structures have periodicity in all three directions. The main 
advantage of such a structure is inhibiting and directing the photons resulting from the 
phenomenon of spontaneous emission. Three-dimensional structures can be produced using 
techniques known from electronic industry. There is still a lot of unanswered questions about 
the three-dimensional photonic crystals, and the main aim will be to complete inhibition of 
spontaneous emission which is theoretically possible by using infinitely thick crystals [5].
3. Electromagnetic wave propagation in 1D structure
The relationship between electric and magnetic fields are described by Maxwell’s equations. 
These four equations are the basis for electromagnetic wave propagation modelling [6]. 
Fig. 1. Simple Bragg mirror
178
Considering only the propagation of the electric field in the vacuum, one dimensional wave 
equation can be obtained:
  (1)
where:
 E – the electric field vector,
 x – spatial coordinate,
 c – the speed of light in the vacuum,
 t – time.
Referring to the Helmholtz solution of this equations it is possible to model the harmonic 
wave in photonic crystals. Assuming the solution in the form of a harmonic wave propagation 
through the materials with different coefficients of dielectric permittivity, and thus with other 
factors of wave refraction, according to [1, 7] the following harmonic solution is obtained:
  (2)
where:
 Epr  – the amplitude of the propagating wave electric field,
 Ep – the amplitude of the incident wave electric field,
 Eo – the amplitude of the reflected wave electric field,
 r – spatial coordinate,
 i – the imaginary unit,
 k0 – the wave vector dependent to medium refractive index.
For the photonic structure consisting of m-layers, as shown in Fig. 2, the solution of 
Helmholtz equation for m-th layer becomes:
  (3)
where:
 nm  – a refractive index for the m-th layer,
 xm – an coordinate position in the m-th layer,
 Am – the amplitude of the wave incident on the m-th layer,
 Bm – the amplitude of the wave reflected on the m-th layer,
  k – a wave vector.
Introducing the continuity conditions for every interlayer:
  (4)
  (5)
∂
∂
−
∂
∂
=
2
2 2
2
2
1 0E
x c
E
t
E E e E epr p
ik r
r
ik r= + −0 0
E x A e B em m
in kx
m
in kxm m m m( ) = + −
E x E xm m m m( ) = ( )+1
∂
∂
( ) = ∂
∂
( )+x E x x E xm m m m1
179
Fig. 2. Photonic structure consisting of m layers
the system of equations for each surface between the layers is obtained:
  (6)
  (7)
For the structure with N layers, the system of 2N+2 equations with 2N+4 unknowns is 
built by applying the continuity conditions (4) (5) for each interlayer and for the first and 
the last surface of the structure. The unknowns are complex amplitudes of the incident and 
reflected waves on each interlayer. It is a system of complex linear algebraic equations, with 
respect to Ai and Bi.
Such a system of equations can be solved assuming the boundary conditions for A0, for 
example equal to 1, which is the amplitude of wave incident on the crystal, and Bn+1 = 0 
meaning that there is no reflections between the last layer and the surrounding medium. 
The reflection coefficient, which is the most important parameter of the photonic crystal, is 
determined by the relation [5]:
  (8)
4. Numerical model of optical demultiplexer
To solve the system of equations the Cramer method was used. This method is most 
convenient in the present case because it is important to find only one unknown B0. The 
program calculates the reflection coefficient R in the loop sequence for each wavelength in 
a given range with a specific, defined difference for the subsequent two wavelength [8]. 
4.1. Optical demultiplexer
The optical add-drop multiplexer is a device used for separating the appropriate 
wavelength from the full range of optical wavelength propagating in a single optical fiber. At 
the same time such a device can add another pre-selected light to obtain expected range of 
the wavelength. The optical demultiplexer can be a part of the optical add-drop multiplexer 
A e B e A e B em
in kx
m
in kx
m
in kx
m
in kxm m m m m m m m+ = +− + +
−+ +
1 1
1 1
in kA e in kB e in kA e in kBm m
in kx
m m
in kx
m m
in kx
m m
m m m m m m− = −− + + + ++1 1 11 1 1e
in kxm m− +
R B
A
=






0
0
2
180
or standalone device with many applications in networks and other optical devices. A key 
element of this device is a Bragg mirror with a defect. This is a typical 1D photonic crystal 
with a defect, which means that to the periodically stacked layers one layer with other 
parameter of refractive index or thickness is introduced. By proper selection of layers and 
defect parameter can be designed a structure with reflection coefficient equal to 1 for the 
entire range of the incident wave with the exception of one chosen length.
4.2. Numerical calculation results
The applied numerical method allows to define any photonic structures. Flexibility relates 
to the number of layers and their refractive indices and thicknesses. For the purpose of this 
article a simple structure shown in the Fig. 3 is considered. It is a five-layer structure, of 
a thickness equal to 1 μm, consisting of alternating layers of material with refractive index 
equal to 3.5 and air (n = 1).
Fig. 3. Five-layer photonic crystal structure which is a part of the optical demultiplexer
For the structure shown in the Fig 3, without embedded defect, a complete wave reflection 
for the wavelength range from 1.24 to 1.32 μm (infrared light) is obtained. Numerical results 
are shown in the Fig. 4. 
Fig. 4. Reflectance spectrum for the structure without defect
181
The defect into the central layer is introduced by the change of the thickness. The 
numerical result for thickness change by 312 μm is shown in the Fig. 5.
As can be seen in the Fig. 5. for the structure with defect, the complete transmission by 
the crystal was achieved for the wavelength of 1.310 μm. After several numerical simulations 
a graph which describes the Bragg defect thickness dependence on the length was plotted. 
The graph is shown in the Fig. 6.
Fig. 5. Reflectance spectrum for the structure with defect
Fig. 6. Wavelength of transmitted wave vs. the Bragg defect thickness
The same calculations can be performed by changing the refractive index of the Bragg 
defect and the results are shown in the Fig. 7. However, such a design is problematic because 
each time a material with suitable refractive index should be found.
 
 
 
1,210
1,220
1,230
1,240
1,250
1,260
1,270
1,280
1,290
1,300
1,310
1,18 1,2 1,22 1,24 1,26 1,28 1,3 1,32
W
av
el
en
gt
h 
[μ
m
]
Bragg defect thickness [μm]
182
Fig. 7. Wavelength of transmitted wave vs. the refractive index
5. Conclusions
Photonic crystals have an increasing role in modern optic technology and every year 
there is more and more applications of such structures. The article described a possibility 
of designing the optical demultiplexer photonic structures using the numerical model. The 
numerical model allows to define all necessary parameters of the photonic crystal structure. 
The article shows that by such a program one can create tables and graphs serving as a quick 
and effective tool to design photonic crystal parameters. In the future, the use of photonic 
crystals will be increasing so the development of this type of applications will be necessary 
and unavoidable.
R e f e r e n c e s
[1] Inonue K., Ohtaka K., Photonic  Crystals.  Physics,  fabrication  and  applications, 
Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2004. 
[2] Baba T.  Photonic Crystals – an Introduction, http://www.jsps.go.jp/j-bilat/fos_ja/data/
jishi_06/abst08.pdf, online: 2014-11-26.
[3] Skorobogatuy M., Yang J., Fundamentals  of  photonic  crystal  guiding, Cambridge 
University Press, Cambridge 2008.
[4] Joannopoulos J.D., Johnson S.G., Winn J.N., Meade R.D. Photonic Crystals. Modling 
the flow of light, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 2008.
[5] Maldovan M., Thomas E.L., Periodic  materials  andinterference  lithography  for 
photonics,  phononics  and  mechanics, WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 
Weinheim 2009. 
[6] Haznadar Z., Stih Z., Electromagnetic fields, waves and numerical methods., Springer-
Verlag, Berlin 2004.
 
 
 
1,180
1,200
1,220
1,240
1,260
1,280
1,300
1,320
1,340
3,400 3,500 3,600 3,700 3,800 3,900 4,000 4,100
W
av
el
en
gt
h 
[μ
m
]
Refractive index
183
[7] Yasumoto K., Electromagnetic Theory and Applications  for Photonic Crystals, CRC 
Press, Boca Raton 2005.
[8] Młynarczyk P., Modelowanie numeryczne elementów z kryształów fotoniczych, Praca 
dyplomowa inżynierska, Politechnika Śląska, Gliwice 2010.



Numerical modelling of the optical demultiplexer photonic structures

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Numerical modelling of the optical demultiplexer photonic structures

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