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Control of iridescence in natural photonic structures: the case of butterfly scales

S. Wickham,     University of Sydney, Australia (currently at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, USA

L. Poladian,     University of Sydney, Australia

M.C.J. Large,     University of Sydney, Australia and Canon Information Systems Research Australia, Australia

P. Vukusic,     Exeter University, UK

Abstract:

This chapter looks at how optical microstructures in butterfly scales produce colour, as well as structural black and white. Butterflies contain some of the most diverse optical microstructures nature has to offer. The most interesting and complex of these are three-dimensional photonic crystals. The refractive index contrasts available ...

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