Dynamic MEMS based photonic bandgap filter

Presents the development of an integrated fast filtering system using a photonic band gap (PBG) filter and a MEMS actuator. The actuator varies the air gap thickness between two PBG stacks to vary the optical transmission of the stack. The switch is a fast, reliable, electrically driven filter that can be fully integrated with current focal plane array technologies. The filter has been developed to have "on" and "off" states in the 3-5 micron wavelength range. The device can be easily tailored for use in other wavebands. This MEMS/PBG filter can be hybridized into existing optical system designs but can also be integrated into new optical system designs.