This book is a review of photonic materials and their applications. It presents 14 chapters, that give a snapshot of the field including basic sciences (photonics, plasmonics, advanced optics, nanophotonics) and applications (renewable energy, fiber-optics, lasers and smart materials). The book starts with a summary of recent developments in photonic crystal (PC) applications. This introduction is followed by chapters that present design concepts and investigations of PC devices such as: - All-optical XOR gates using 2D photonic crystals - One-dimensional PCs containing germanium (Ge). - Graphene surface plasmonics - Nanophotonics and fiber-optic lasers - Chalcogenides - Bragg Fibers and more The broad range of topics make this an informative source on current and exciting photonics research, and the variety of photonic materials. It serves as a reference for graduate scholars (in physics and materials science) and allied researchers who have a keen interest in photonics.

There are growing advantages to the use of graphene-based nanophotonics in communication, sensing, security, safety, spectroscopy, manufacturing, biomedicine, agriculture, imaging, and other fields. These advantages, as well as the numerous challenges associated with this technology and proposed solutions to these challenges, are summarized in this book. The key objective of the book is to serve as a single-source reference for the rapidly expanding application aspects of the technology of graphene-based nanophotonics, as well as the number of modules required for their successful implementation. This book seeks to give readers a comprehensive understanding of several elements of graphene-based nanophotonics, such as emerging application areas, the design and modelling of sensors, absorbers, optical fiber, encoders, etc. A complete view of the progress and breakthroughs in novel materials for sensing, detecting and encoding technology is presented. The book also emphasizes the consequences of THz signals on human health, as well as the environmental components of THz. This book will be of tremendous value for those with an interest in electronic engineering, particularly those keeping an eye on this emerging technology.

This book brings together reviews by internationally renowed experts on quantum optics and photonics. It describes novel experiments at the limit of single photons, and presents advances in this emerging research area. It also includes reprints and historical descriptions of some of the first pioneering experiments at a single-photon level and nonlinear optics, performed before the inception of lasers and modern light detectors, often with the human eye serving as a single-photon detector. The book comprises 19 chapters, 10 of which describe modern quantum photonics results, including single-photon sources, direct measurement of the photon's spatial wave function, nonlinear interactions and non-classical light, nanophotonics for room-temperature single-photon sources, time-multiplexed methods for optical quantum information processing, the role of photon statistics in visual perception, light-by-light coherent control using metamaterials, nonlinear nanoplasmonics, nonlinear polarization optics, and ultrafast nonlinear optics in the mid-infrared.

In recent decades, there has been a phenomenal growth in the field of photonic crystal research and has emerged as an interdisciplinary area. Photonic crystals are usually nanostructured electromagnetic media consisting of periodic variation of dielectric constant, which prohibit certain electromagnetic wave frequency ranges called photonic bandgaps to propagate through them. Photonic crystals elicited numerous interesting features by unprecedented control of light and their exploitation is a promising tool in nanophotonics and designing optical components. The book ‘Advances in Photonic Crystals and Devices’ is designed with 15 chapters with introductory as well as research and application based contents. It covers the following highlighted features: Basics of photonic crystals and photonic crystal fibers Different theoretical as well as experimental approaches Current research advances from around the globe Nonlinear optics and super-continuum generation in photonic crystal fibers Magnetized cold plasma photonic crystals Liquid crystal defect embedded with graphene layers Biophysics and biomedical applications as optical sensors Two-dimensional photonic crystal demultiplexer Optical logic gates using photonic crystals A large number of references The goal of this book is to draw the background in understanding, fabrication and characterization of photonic crystals using a variety of materials and their applications in design of several optical devices. Though the book is useful as a reference for the researchers working in the area of photonics, optical computing and fabrication of nanophotonic devices, it is intended for the beginners like students pursuing their masters’ degree in photonics.

This book brings together reviews by internationally renowed experts on quantum optics and photonics. It describes novel experiments at the limit of single photons, and presents advances in this emerging research area. It also includes reprints and historical descriptions of some of the first pioneering experiments at a single-photon level and nonlinear optics, performed before the inception of lasers and modern light detectors, often with the human eye serving as a single-photon detector. The book comprises 19 chapters, 10 of which describe modern quantum photonics results, including single-photon sources, direct measurement of the photon's spatial wave function, nonlinear interactions and non-classical light, nanophotonics for room-temperature single-photon sources, time-multiplexed methods for optical quantum information processing, the role of photon statistics in visual perception, light-by-light coherent control using metamaterials, nonlinear nanoplasmonics, nonlinear polarization optics, and ultrafast nonlinear optics in the mid-infrared.

Sol-gel processing is a low temperature, low cost wet chemistry route to a range of different materials, particularly glassy and ceramic oxides, including nanoparticles and powders, fibers, thin films and membranes, or monoliths and composites. Thin films and coatings represent by far the most important category of sol-gel derived products with optical, electronic and magnetic functionalities, for example photoresist and dielectric spin-on-glass layers, flat screen displays, anti-reflection, conducting and magnetic disk coatings, as well as photochromic, electrochromic and photovoltaic coatings. Sol-gel derived materials are homogeneous at the molecular level and are a good example of a bottom-up approach to materials synthesis. There is increasing need of new optical and photonic materials with improved performance, where molecular level homogeneity and easy fabrication in film form may be especially convenient, highlighting a decisive advantage of sol-gel over other more established technologies to obtain graded index optical components, solar control coatings, phosphors, glass ceramics or multilayer photonic structures. There is no book available yet which focuses in particular on optical and photonic sol-gel derived materials. This is what makes this book unique at this point for those especially or exclusively interested in optical and photonic functional materials and applications. This book represents an important tool to update scientists and engineers with recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of optical and photonic materials, components and devices. Our target audience are those working in materials science, physics, engineering and chemistry disciplines, in particular academics and researchers working in advanced optical/photonic processing technologies, research and development engineers in high technology industries and research project leaders. This book will also be an essential tool for graduate students pursuing a PhD or even a Master's degree. Reviews wide range of sol-gel derived coatings including reflective and anti-reflective, self-cleaning, and electrochromic Discusses latest advances in sol-gel derived photonic crystals including one dimensional, two dimensional, and three dimensional structures Addresses key applications in solid state lighting, solar cells, sensors, fiber optics, and magneto-optical devices