Photonic crystals in two-dimensions based on semiconductors: fabrication, physics and technology

Wavelength-scale periodically structured dielectrics in two or three dimensions, the so-called photonic crystals (PCs), may acquire outstanding electromagnetic properties, due to the appearance of a photonic gap and of the peculiar photon dispersion relations around such gaps. One may take advantage of these properties to elaborate novel devices based on microresonators, integrated mirrors, etc. In this paper, we start with a brief introduction to two-dimensional (2D) crystals and to defects in these crystals. We next discuss the physical and technological issues raised by some recent realisations. The incorporation of PCs into various devices is then examined, restricting ourselves to applications to light-emitters and integrated optics, a case for which radiation losses of PCs, are discussed.