Retrieval of the relevant parameters of natural multilayer systems

DEMETRIO MACÍAS; ANA LUNA; DIANA SKIGIN; ALEXANDRE VIAL; MARINA INCHAUSSANDAGUE

Congreso; Advanced Electromagnetics Symposium 2012; 2012

Ceroglossus suturalis beetles show iridescent coloration produced by multiple reflections from the epicuticle of their elytra, which is a multilayer that alternates materials of different optical density. By means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques we obtain the significantgeometrical parameters such as the number of layers and their thicknesses. We investigate the reflected response of the Ceroglossus suturalis beetle, and apply evolution strategies to retrieve the real and imaginary parts of the refraction index of the materials comprising the multilayersystem. We show that this kind of algorithms have a great potential as a tool to investigate natural photonic structures.