Flexible control of scattering elements for plasma photonic crystals in dielectric barrier discharge

Plasma photonic crystals (PPCs) refers to periodic structures composed of plasma and dielectric material, or the spatially periodic arrangement of plasma densities. The integration of plasmas in photonic crystal structures introduces a new level of tunability, enabling advantageous properties such as dynamic tuning, negative refraction, and rapid reconfiguration. The fabrication and measurement of PPCs have made significant advancements to date, finding extensive applications in plasma stealth aircraft, microwave filters, multichannel communication, and other fields. However, the majority of PPCs previously documented are limited to simple lattices consisting of identical elements with the shapes and same sizes. The achievement of tunable superlattice PPCs with enhanced band gaps is highly imperative. Realizing independent control over the sizes and structures of scattering elements in plasma superlattices is particularly intriguing as it might lead to novel features and possibilities.