A radio frequency (RF) to optical converter for RF imaging, wherein the converter comprises an array of RF antenna pixels adapted to receive RF signals, wherein the RF antenna pixels are adapted to facilitate RF resonance of the received RF signals; a photonic band gap (PBG) layer connected to the array of RF antenna pixels, the PBG layer comprising at least two materials, arranged in a photonic crystal (PC), wherein at least one of the materials comprises an electro-optic (EO) material, wherein the EO material is adapted to use the RF resonant signals to produce changes in optical properties of the EO material, and wherein the PC is adapted to use changes in optical properties of the EO material to produce enhanced changes in optical properties of the PBG layer; and an RF ground plane connected to the PBG layer.