Photonic and electromagnetic crystals, which offer unprecedented control of photons, have emerged as an important new class of optical materials. Recent remarkable developments in analysis, calculation, and nano-fabrication techniques enable us to design and fabricate desired photonic crystal structures and devices. Novel photonic nanostructure devices such as ultrasmall channel add/drop filtering devices, new type of lasers, etc., are rapidly developing, especially using 2D photonic crystal slabs. Construction of full 3D photonic bandgap crystals continues to be studied for aiming at developing photonic chips, including various ultrasmall components by using semiconductor processes, self-assembly methods, and photo-assisted process technologies, and so on.

In addition, research topics are expanding to other aspects of photonic crystals. Recent interests include meta-materials, left-handed materials, negative refractive indices, etc. Novel applications such as a lens that can focus light beyond the limits of classical optics and slowing or even stopping light inside the photonic crystal has started to be investigated.

Materials for fabricating photonic crystals are also expanding into all classes: organic, metallic, ceramic, magnetic, and dielectric. Combination of desirable properties and phenomena, such as nonlinearity and luminescence, from a wide variety of materials promises to bring about new and exciting applications. In addition to material variety, structural variation has given rise to various structures, including hetero photonic crystals. In PECS-VI, we would like to discuss and define the direction of this exciting field for the next few years.

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