Novel two-dimensional photonic crystals designed by evolutionary algorithms

Stefan F. Preble; Hod Lipson; Michal F. Lipson

doi:10.1117/12.570841

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25 October 2004 Novel two-dimensional photonic crystals designed by evolutionary algorithms

Stefan F. Preble; Hod Lipson; Michal F. Lipson

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Proceedings Volume 5597, Nanophotonics for Communication: Materials and Devices; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.570841
Event: Optics East, 2004, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Abstract

We use evolutionary algorithms to search the space of two-dimensional photonic crystals with maximum bandgaps for a given index contrast. The unit-cells of the photonic crystal are represented as bitmaps which are either directly encoded or generated through bottom-up and top-down construction trees. The fitness criterion rewards for partial band gaps and is evaluated by solving for the photonic crystals bands using an eigensolver in a planewave basis. Starting from random patterns and with no prior knowledge, the process discovered a number of novel photonic crystals, some with bandgaps that are 12.5% larger than any previously reported human-designed crystals.

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Stefan F. Preble, Hod Lipson, and Michal F. Lipson "Novel two-dimensional photonic crystals designed by evolutionary algorithms", Proc. SPIE 5597, Nanophotonics for Communication: Materials and Devices, (25 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.570841

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