Patent ID: 7184642

Claim:
A three-dimensional photonic crystal comprising: a first layer including a plurality of columnar structures spaced apart by a predetermined interval; a second layer including a plurality of columnar structures spaced apart by a predetermined interval, the columnar structures extending in a direction different from that of the columnar structures in the first layer; a third layer including a plurality of columnar structures spaced apart by a predetermined interval, the columnar structures extending in substantially the same direction as that of the columnar structures in the first layer; a fourth layer including a plurality of columnar structures spaced apart by a predetermined interval, the columnar structures extending in substantially the same direction as that of the columnar structures in the second layer; and additional layers, each including at least one layer containing discrete structures disposed discretely in a plane substantially parallel to each of the first through fourth layers, wherein the first to fourth layers are stacked sequentially with the additional layer adjacent to at least two of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth layer, wherein the first layer and the third layer are stacked such that the columnar structures in the first layer and the third layer are mutually shifted by about one-half the first predetermined interval in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the extension of the columnar structures of the first layer, wherein the second layer and the fourth layer are stacked such that the columnar structures in the second layer and the fourth layer are mutually shifted by about one-half the second predetermined interval in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the extension of the columnar structures of the second layer, wherein discrete structures contained in the additional layers are disposed at positions corresponding to the intersections of adjacent columnar structures of stacked layers, and the three-dimensional photonic crystal contains at least two regions of different discrete structures.