Affiliation:
1. School of Physics, Exeter University, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK.
2. Imerys Minerals Limited, Par, Cornwall PL24 2SQ, UK.
Abstract
The colored appearances of animals are controlled by pigmentation, highly periodic ultrastructure, or a combination of both. Whiteness, however, is less common and is generated by neither of these, because it requires scattering processes appropriate for all visible wavelengths. We report whiteness resulting from a three-dimensional photonic solid in the scales of Cyphochilus spp. beetles. Their scales are characterized by their exceptional whiteness, their perceived brightness, and their optical brilliance, but they are only 5 micrometers thick. This thickness is at least two orders of magnitude thinner than common synthetic systems designed for equivalent-quality whiteness.
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Reference6 articles.
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