Discovery of a diamond-based photonic crystal structure in beetle scales

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2008 May;77(5 Pt 1):050904. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.77.050904. Epub 2008 May 29.

Abstract

We investigated the photonic crystal structure inside iridescent scales of the weevil Lamprocyphus augustus. By combining a high-resolution structure analysis technique based on sequential focused ion beam milling and scanning electron microscopy imaging with theoretical modeling and photonic band-structure calculations, we discovered a natural three-dimensional photonic structure with a diamond-based crystal lattice operating at visible wavelengths. Moreover, we found that within individual scales, the diamond-based structure is assembled in the form of differently oriented single-crystalline micrometer-sized pixels with only selected lattice planes facing the scales' top surface. A comparison of results obtained from optical microreflectance measurements with photonic band-structure calculations reveals that it is this sophisticated microassembly of the diamond-based crystal lattice that lends Lamprocyphus augustus its macroscopically near angle-independent green coloration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coleoptera / chemistry*
  • Coleoptera / physiology
  • Coleoptera / ultrastructure*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallography
  • Diamond / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Photons
  • Refractometry

Substances

  • Diamond