One-dimensional photonic band gaps in optical lattices

The propagation of light in periodic structures with high optical density is suppressed if the light frequency lies within certain bands called photonic band gaps. The effect is well-known from dielectric photonic crystals, but also exists in optical lattices and has recently been observed experimentally. While it is usually modelled using the transfer matrix approach, we show here that the phenomenon is also efficiently captured by a cooperative scattering model in the multiple scattering limit which, apart from providing a more fundamental understanding of the phenomenon, has the advantage of allowing incorporation of finite-size and disorder effects.