Broadband diffraction management and self-collimation of white light in photonic lattices

Abstract

We introduce periodic photonic structures where the strength of diffraction can be managed in a very broad frequency range. We show how to design arrays of curved waveguides where light beams experience wavelength-independent normal, anomalous, or zero diffraction. Our results suggest opportunities for efficient self-collimation, focusing, and reshaping of beams produced by white-light and supercontinuum sources. We also predict a possibility of multicolor Talbot effect, which is not possible in free space or conventional photonic lattices.