Reconfigurable photonic crystal using self-initiated gas breakdown

We present a resonant photonic crystal for which transmission is time-modulated by a self-initiated gaseous plasma. A resonant cavity in the photonic crystal is used to amplify an incoming microwave field to intensities where gas breakdown is possible. The presence of the plasma in the resonant cavity alters the transmission spectrum of the device. We investigate both transient and steady-state operation with computational simulations using a time-domain model that couples Maxwell's equations and plasma fluid equations. The predicted plasma ignition and stability are then experimentally verified.