High transmission and single-mode operation in low-index-contrast photonic crystal waveguide devices

We investigate photonic crystal films made of low-index glass materials. Polarization-sensitive waveguiding and single-mode operation (with losses as low as 1.7 dB/mm) have been observed in wide multimode photonic crystal waveguides after propagation of some millimeters. Furthermore, single-mode operation and transmission as high as about 50% per bend has been observed experimentally in low-index photonic crystal waveguide bends.