Small-hole waveguides in silicon photonic crystal slabs: Efficient use of the complete photonic bandgap

We investigate photonic crystal waveguides that are formed by holes of reduced diameter within a hexagonal lattice of cylindrical airholes in thin freestanding silicon slabs. The waveguides operate in both an even-symmetry bandgap and a partial gap of odd-symmetry modes that form a complete two-dimensional bandgap under the light line. The operating frequency is tuned by the small-hole diameter to fit within the range of both bandgaps and to match a free-space wavelength of 1550 nm. Their narrow bandwidth and low group velocity of light propagation renders the waveguides useful as filters or sensing elements. Because of the strong dependence of the waveguide mode characteristics on structural changes, the highest-precision lithographic fabrication techniques must be applied.