Broad-Band Chiral Reflectors based on Nano-Structured Biological Materials

Authors: D.J. Brink, N.G. van der Berg, L.C. Prinsloo, A. Botha

Abstract:

In this work we study the reflection of circularly polarised light from a nano-structured biological material found in the exocuticle of scarabus beetles. This material is made of a stack of ultra-thin (~5 nm) uniaxial layers arranged in a left-handed helicoidal stack, which resonantly reflects circularly polarized light. A chirp in the layer thickness combined with a finite absorption coefficient produce a broad smooth reflectance spectrum. By comparing model calculations and electron microscopy with measured spectra we can explain our observations and quantify most relevant structural parameters.

Keywords: Chiral reflectors, circularly polarised light, helicoidal structures, nano photonics.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1059895

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