Iridescence from photonic crystals and its suppression in butterfly scales
Open Access
- 3 November 2008
- journal article
- Published by The Royal Society in Journal of The Royal Society Interface
- Vol. 6 (uppl_2), S233-42
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2008.0353.focus
Abstract
Regular three-dimensional periodic structures have been observed in the scales of over half a dozen butterfly species. We compare several of these structures: we calculate their photonic bandgap properties; measure the angular variation of the reflection spectra; and relate the observed iridescence (or its suppression) to the structures. We compare the mechanisms for iridescence suppression in different species and conclude with some speculations about form, function, development and evolution.Keywords
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