A Study of Biological Photonic Crystals in the Internal Opal Scale Structures of Iridescent Beetle Species in the Cerambycidae Family

Authors

Lauren Richey, Brigham Young University
Dr. John Gardner, Brigham Young University

Keywords

photonic crystals, opal scale structures, iridescent beetle species, Cerambycidae

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

A photonic crystal is a periodic structure that confines, manipulates, and guides photons. Such structures affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves by defining allowed and forbidden frequency bands known as photonic band gaps. Therefore, a photonic crystal can be thought of as the optical counterpart of a semiconductor, allowing only certain frequencies, or wavelengths, to propagate through the crystal. It is difficult to create photonic crystals operating in the visible frequencies due to the requirement of small periodicities to interact with visible light frequencies.

Recommended Citation

Richey, Lauren and Gardner, Dr. John (2013) "A Study of Biological Photonic Crystals in the Internal Opal Scale Structures of Iridescent Beetle Species in the Cerambycidae Family," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1104.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1104