Patent ID: 10795174

Abstract:
Narrow bandpass filters are useful in numerous practical applications including laser systems, imaging, telecommunications, and astronomy. Traditionally implemented with thin-film stacks, there exists alternate means incorporating photonic resonance effects. Accordingly, here we disclose a new approach to bandpass filters that engages the guided-mode resonance effect working in conjunction with a cavity-based Fabry-Pérot resonance to flatten and steepen the pass band. Both of these resonance mechanisms are native to simple resonant bandpass filters placed in a cascade. To support the disclosure, numerical examples provide quantitative spectral characteristics including pass-band shape and sideband levels. Thus, we compare the spectra of single-layer 1D- and 2D-patterned resonant gratings with a dual-grating cascade design incorporating mathematically identical gratings. Dual and triple cascade designs are measured against a classic multi-cavity thin-film filter with 151 layers. The disclosed examples show comparable and improved results achieved with these sparse structures while engaging principles absent in corresponding state-of-the-art technology.