Abnormal Modulation of Dielectric Band Transmittance of Polystyrene Opal

The abnormal transmittance in the dielectric band edge of a polystyrene opal is observed and analysed. The transmittance is periodically modulated and the period of modulation varies with the wavelength, which destroys the perfect structure of the photonic band gap. The transmittance modulation originates from the propagation of the low order whispering-gallery mode excited in polystyrene spheres. These results indicate that the whispering-gallery mode has a great influence on practical applications of polystyrene opal.