Angular dependence of structural fluorescent emission from the scales of the male butterfly Troïdes magellanus (Papilionidae)

Eloise van Hooijdonk , Carlos Barthou (1) , Jean Pol Vigneron , Serge Berthier (2, 1)

1 INSP - Institut des Nanosciences de Paris
2 UPD7 - Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7

This paper reveals an enhanced fluorescence in the hindwings of the male Troides magellanus, due to the confinement of fluorophores in a three-dimensional photonic structure. It is characterized by a spatial variation of the emission intensity and coloration. It also reveals the role of the structure on the emission and reflection complementary processes. We focus on the experimental analysis of these phenomena by means of a morphological study, a reflection characterization, and an emission characterization. Collecting and analyzing data over every emerging direction was important in this work. A theoretical approach is proposed to explain the experimental observations. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Domaines: Matière Condensée [cond-mat]

Eloise van Hooijdonk, Carlos Barthou, Jean Pol Vigneron, Serge Berthier. Angular dependence of structural fluorescent emission from the scales of the male butterfly Troïdes magellanus (Papilionidae). Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 2012, 29 (5), pp.1104-1111. ⟨10.1364/JOSAB.29.001104⟩. ⟨hal-01236767⟩