A review on 1D photonic crystal based reflective optical limiters

All-optical limiting devices are based on materials enabling light to control light, possessing a nonlinear optical response, and are reviving their popularity. One-dimensional photonic crystals (1 D PhC) are an auspicious platform for achieving novel optical limiters functioning for remarkably low limiting threshold and high damage threshold over a wider regime. 1 D PhC, a periodic nanostructure with a refractive index distribution along one direction, has been widely investigated by researchers. However, their utility to limit the high-intensity radiation to protect sophisticated optical sensors and devices is scarce in the research field. An overview of the numerically simulated, mathematically modeled, theoretically proposed, and experimentally realized 1 D PhC reflective optical limiters are provided here. This review focuses on the limited but noteworthy scrutiny of 1 D photonic crystal-based optical limiters using rare earth metals, nanocomposites, semiconductors, and phase-changing materials as defect layers.HighlightsA reliable 1D PhC reflective optical limiter is resistant to laser induced damages.Limiter mechanism relies on creation of nonlinear localized modes.1D PhC optical limiter reflects high power incident beams for a broader frequency window.Reflection based limiters are applicable for arbitrary direction of incidence.