Complete photonic bandgaps in the visible range from spherical layer structures in dichromate gelatin emulsions

We have fabricated spherical layer structures that exhibit complete photonic bandgaps in the visible range in dichromate gelatin emulsions by holographic interference. The complete bandgap was not a result of the high dielectric contrast but was due to the fact that the spherical layer structure was isotropic with equal spacing in all accessible directions. Angular dependence spectral measurements of the spherical layer structures were in good agreement with the expected results from an ideal structure of dielectric concentric spherical shells with equal spacing. Our fabrication technique and results could pave the way for new applications using complete bandgap photonic crystals.