Abstract:
Photonic crystals are a novel class of optical materials that, almost certainly, will
underpin major advances in future communication and computer technology. In a
photonic crystal, the periodic distribution of refractive index gives rise to interferometric
action which leads to band gaps, or frequency ranges for which light cannot propagate.
Material or structural defects in the crystal can give rise to localised states, or field
modes, that are the analogues of impurity modes in semiconductors, changing the
radiation dynamics of the crystal and providing the ability to mould the flow of light in a
variety of ways. The radiation dynamics are characterised by the local density of states
(LDOS) and, in this paper, we describe a new, highly accurate and efficient technique
based on field multi pole methods for computing the LDOS. Its implementation on SMP
systems using the OpenMP and MPI protocols is discussed and we illustrate its
applicability in studies of ordered and disordered crystals. The latter are of particular
significance as they provide a framework for investigating fabrication tolerances for
realistic crystals.
