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Abstract-Photonic crystals based on silica colloidal crystals (artificial opals) exhibit pronounced stopbands for electromagnetic wave propagation and the corresponding modification of the photon density of states in the visible range. These spectrally selective features can be enhanced by impregnating opals with higher refractive materials like, e.g., polymers. Doping of these structures with dye molecules, semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots), and rare-earth ions provides a possibility to examine the challenging theoretical predictions of the inhibited spontaneous emission in photonic bandgap (PBG) materials. First experiments are discussed in which pronounced modification of spontaneous emission spectra and noticeable changes in decay kinetics were observed.

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One-dimensional Ag nanoparticle arrays have been grown on step-bunched vicinal Al 2 O 3 in ultrahigh vacuum using deposition at a glancing angle. The structures grown showed a strong optical anisotropy in the visible region of the spectrum. The optical anisotropy was measured in situ using reflection anisotropy spectroscopy. Relevant optical properties were determined as a function of deposition angle and Ag thickness. A simple phenomenological model was developed to reproduce the features seen in the spectra. With this model it was possible to use the inhomogeneous broadening as a guide to the nanoparticle dispersion.

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