Temperature-mediated transition from dyakonov surface waves to surface-plasmon-polariton waves

Tom G. Mackay, Akhlesh Lakhtakia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The propagation of electromagnetic surface waves, guided by the planar interface of a temperature-sensitive isotropic material and a temperature-insensitive uniaxial material, each characterized by a relative permittivity dyadic, was investigated theoretically for the case of the optic axis of the uniaxial partnering material lying wholly in the interface plane. On raising the temperature, the isotropic partnering material (namely, InSb) transforms from a weakly dissipative dielectric material to a metal in the terahertz frequency regime. Correspondingly, the surface waves change from being Dyakonov surface waves to being surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves. Numerical studies revealed that modest changes in temperature could result in dramatic changes in the numbers of propagating surface waves, their angular existence domains, their propagation constants, and their decay constants. Whereas multiple Dyakonov surface waves may propagate in a specific direction if at least one of the two partnering materials is dissipative, at most one SPP wave can propagate in a specific direction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number7586106
JournalIEEE Photonics Journal
Volume8
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Temperature-mediated transition from dyakonov surface waves to surface-plasmon-polariton waves'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this