Photonic modulation of a photonic band gap

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first photonic crystal structure having a first photonic band gap distribution and configured to support a first electromagnetic signal having a first frequency distribution, the first photonic crystal structure including a first mechanically movable element;

a first converter configured to receive a second electromagnetic signal different from the first electromagnetic signal and having a second frequency distribution that does not overlap the first frequency distribution, wherein the first converter is further configured to output a first electrical signal corresponding to the second electromagnetic signal; and

wherein the first mechanically movable element is responsive to the first electrical signal to change the first photonic band gap distribution.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic band gap distribution includes a photonic band gap in at least three dimensions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic crystal structure includes a first material and a second material different from the first material, the first and second materials each having a real dielectric constant greater than 1.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first mechanically movable element is responsive to the first electrical signal to reversibly change the first photonic band gap distribution.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first mechanically movable element is responsive to the first electrical signal to irreversibly change the first photonic band gap distribution.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic crystal structure includes a first material having the first photonic band gap distribution, and wherein the first mechanically movable element is integral to the first material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic crystal structure includes a first material having the first photonic band gap distribution, and wherein the first mechanically movable element is arranged proximate to the first material having the first photonic band gap distribution.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the first electromagnetic signal, wherein the sensor is operably coupled to a device configured to control the second electromagnetic signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the device configured to control the second electromagnetic signal includes an electromagnetic energy generator configured to produce the second electromagnetic signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the device configured to control the second electromagnetic signal includes an optical element configured to interact with the second electromagnetic signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic crystal structure is configured to support a first electromagnetic signal having a first polarization that is variable according to the varying photonic band gap distribution.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic crystal structure is configured to support a first electromagnetic signal corresponding to a first mode, the first mode having a first amplitude that is variable according to the varying photonic band gap distribution.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first photonic crystal structure is configured to output at least a portion of the first electromagnetic signal, and wherein the outputted portion of the first electromagnetic signal forms at least a portion of the second electromagnetic signal.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a first photonic crystal structure having a first photonic band gap distribution and configured to support a first electromagnetic signal having a first frequency distribution;

a first converter configured to receive a second electromagnetic signal, different from the first electromagnetic signal and having a second frequency distribution that does not overlap the first frequency distribution, wherein the first converter is further configured to output a first acoustic signal corresponding to the second electromagnetic signal; and

wherein the first photonic band gap distribution is configured to change corresponding to the first acoustic signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the first electromagnetic signal, wherein the sensor is operably coupled to a device configured to control the second electromagnetic signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor is operably coupled to circuitry, and wherein the circuitry is operably coupled to the device configured to control the second electromagnetic signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first photonic band gap distribution is configured to vary between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state corresponds to a first configuration of the second electromagnetic signal and the second state corresponds to a second configuration of the second electromagnetic signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first photonic crystal structure is configured to output at least a portion of the first electromagnetic signal, and wherein the outputted portion of the first electromagnetic signal forms at least a portion of the second electromagnetic signal.

19. A method comprising:

propagating a first electromagnetic signal having a first frequency distribution in a first region having a first photonic band gap distribution;

converting a second electromagnetic signal, different from the first electromagnetic signal and having a second frequency distribution that does not overlap the first frequency distribution, to a first acoustic signal selected to change the first photonic band gap distribution; and

adjusting the propagation of the first electromagnetic signal responsive to the change in the first photonic band gap distribution.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

varying a characteristic of the second electromagnetic signal as a function of time, wherein varying a characteristic of the second electromagnetic signal as a function of time changes the first photonic band gap distribution as a function of time.