Coherent Photon Scattering and Direct Imaging of the Iso-frequency Contours in Large-area Photonic Crystal Slabs

While the absorption of light can be enhanced using optical resonances in a photonic crystal slab, the characteristics of resonance-enhanced scattering are much less studied. Here, we present an analytical model of resonance-enhanced photon scattering from generic fabrication errors and surface roughness, which agrees well with our experimental results. This phenomenon provides a new method to measure the photonic band structure and to directly map the iso-frequency contours of large-area photonic crystal slabs. Additionally, the iso-frequency contours provide information about the characteristics of the disorder and serve as a feedback tool to improve fabrication processes.