Optical limiters are designed to transmit low-intensity light, while blocking the light with excessively high intensity. A typical passive limiter absorbs excessive electromagnetic energy, which can cause its overheating and destruction. We propose the concept of a photonic reflective limiter based on resonance transmission via a localized mode. Such a limiter does not absorb the high-level radiation, but rather reflects it back to space. Importantly, the nearly total reflection occurs within a broad frequency range and direction of incidence. The same concept can be applied to infrared and microwave frequencies.

• Received 23 August 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.031802