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Diffraction of laser beam from the <111> plane of three-dimensional self-assembled polystyrene photonic crystals (PhC) is experimentally analyzed. Finite numbers of beams emerge out of the colloidal PhC when laser light diffracts from it. The arrangement of diffraction spots on the screen indicates the lattice arrangement in the crystal. The number of diffracted beams strongly depends upon the lattice constant and the incident wavelength. Localized diffraction spots are observed on the surface of the PhC when incident wavelength matches with the particle size of the crystal. The number of diffraction spots increases significantly as lattice constant increases compared to the incident wavelength.

Photonic Crystal