Eigenmode analysis of optical propagation in large-scale subwavelength periodic nanostructures

Summary form only given. We describe a method for rigorously computing the mode characteristics of a periodic nanostructure, and its application to the accurate design of composite optical materials and novel optical devices. In a form-birefringent nanostructure such as a 1D subwavelength periodic grating, the different field distributions for the two linear polarizations result in different effective indices of refraction. Thus the effective optical properties may be engineered through the structure geometry and choice of constituent materials. Engineering of the propagation characteristics of the eigenmodes in a nanostructure can also be used to realize novel photonic devices, such as to achieve phase matching for second harmonic generation (SHG).