Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 February 2016
Using the transfer matrix method, absorbing properties of electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals are proposed. Compared with the absorption of bulk plasma, more absorbing bands have been found in one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals, and the first absorbing band appears below the plasma frequency. These absorbing bands can be controlled by varying structure parameters, plasma parameters and the incident angle. Results show that the periodic number and collision frequency only control the absorbing magnitude. Plasma frequency, plasma thickness and incident angle affect both the absorbing magnitude and locations. Increasing the dielectric constant of the dielectric makes more absorbing bands appear. These features of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals would have potential applications in tunable millimetre absorbers.