A Review of the Development History, Basic Characteristics and Research Status of Photonic Crystals

Abstract

A photonic crystal is a type of artificial micro-structured material with periodic dielectric structure. Since it was formally proposed by Yablonovitch and John in 1987, it has developed into a frontier field that intersects multiple disciplines such as condensed matter physics, optoelectronics, and nanotechnology. This article systematically reviews the development process of photonic crystals from its early theoretical inception, concept proposal to experimental fabrication. It elaborates on the basic characteristics such as photonic band gap, photonic localization, spontaneous radiation control, and photonic wires. It also focuses on summarizing the current research status and application progress of topological photonic crystals, photonic crystal fibers, hollow-core fibers, and sensor devices. Finally, it looks forward to the future development trends.