The Autocloning Method
3. The features of autocloned photonic crystals
The most significant advantage of autocloned photonic crystal is the ability to fabricate a photonic crystal
with a large number of elements on a substrate with arbitrary patterning in a single deposition process.
Therefore, if the substrate were produced at low cost, perhaps by nano-imprinting technology, it would
be possible to manufacture photonic crystals in large quantities using the same processes already established
for conventional optical multilayer films.
It is already possible to support mega-pixel devices by producing photonic crystals with elements in a one
to one correspondence with the device.
Autocloned elements can be fabricated on a substrate with curved patterning.
Novel optical elements that were not possible using conventional technology, such as polarizers and wave-plates
with transmission axis azimuths that vary gradually along a curve can easily be fabricated.
New optical elements have been invented based on such autocloned photonic crystals.
