| This dissertation examines fundamental characteristics of photonic crystal waveguides. After taking a look at traditional waveguides and the history of photonic bandgap crystals, we examine different types of photonic bandgap crystal-based waveguides. We measure the frequency response of several waveguide designs for tightly confined waves. We connect our waveguides to the external world by using coupling probes. We also consider coupling using embedded horns, a method suitable for optical wavelengths.; A photonic bandgap crystal is a structure that does not allow waves of certain frequencies to propagate. This frequency range extends from 11.2 to 13.3 GHz for microwaves in the K-band for the crystal used here. Waveguides are formed by introducing line defects into the crystal.; After examining coupling we look at additional waveguide topics: waveguide bends, waveguide transmission loss, and waveguide dispersion spectra. These topics allow us to move towards a deductive design approach for photonic waveguide circuits, away from the cut-and-try approach commonly practiced up to this point. Mode mapping allows us to compare transmission matrix theory to our results. We found agreement in the shape of the modes, but a slight shift in frequency and propagation vector.; All of the photonic waveguide structures presented here were built from a single ceramic dielectric as well as air. This makes the structures fundamentally scalable to optical wavelengths. We gain knowledge on how to construct useful waveguides once we have the capability to make photonic crystal waveguides at these wavelengths. |
