MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: What is the difference between a photonic bandgap and an electronic bandgap

Date: Wed Jun 28 18:13:35 2000
Posted By: Paula Turner, Faculty, physics, Kenyon College
Area of science: Physics
ID: 960375049.Ph
Message:

A photonic band gap material is a dielectric material in which the
dielectric constant is made to vary periodically.  This periodicity
produces a set of forbidden energies for photons in the material; the range
of forbidden photon energies constitute the so-called photonic band gap of
the material.  It is given this name because it is analogous to the
electronic band gap in insulators and semiconductors.  The term electronic
band gap refers to the forbidden ranges of energy for electrons in these
types of solids.  So, the difference is that electronic band gap materials
have bands of forbidden _electron_ energies, while photonic band gap
materials have bands of forbidden _photon_ energies.  

A research group working on photonic band gap materials has a web page at:
 ges



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