Directionality of light emission in three-dimensional opal-based photonic crystals (Invited Paper)

Experimental and theoretical studies of the emission directionality diagrams of a perylene dye covering the inner surface of three-dimensional opal-based photonic crystals with incomplete photonic bandgap are reported. Directionality diagram of emission intensity is interpreted in terms of the spontaneous emission suppression by photonic band gap and the emission enhancement due to photon focusing phenomenon. A theoretical model is based on the classical analysis of an angular distribution of the radiated power of a point dipole.