Optimizing bending efficiency of self-collimated beams in non-channel planar photonic crystal waveguides.

In this paper, we propose a device to bend light in non-channel planar photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides using the self-collimation phenomenon. The mode distribution in a non-channel planar PhC waveguide is investigated in detail in order to help understand the proposed bending mechanism. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations show an over 80% bending efficiency for a 90 degree bend. As the first proposal for bending light in a non-channel planar PhC waveguide, the presented device enables the application of routing in non-channel planar PhC waveguides.