Introductory Remarks on Polaritons and Surface Polaritons-Electromagnetic Waves at Interfaces.

摘要

The macroscopic dispersion relations and the linear optical properties of Brewster, Fano, and Zenneck modes at the interface of semi-infinite media are formulated in a unified manner in terms of the dielectric constants and magnetic permeabilities of the interfacing media. The microscopic dispersion relations are obtained by introducing the expressions for the dielectric constants and magnetic permeabilities of the two media in terms of the mode properties of the electric dipole and magnetic dipole excitations of the media. The nature of the interface EM modes which occur in two-interface (slab) configurations are discussed with particular emphasis on the Fano modes which occur in symmetrical and asymmetrical two-interface configurations. Finally, the linear coupling of surface polaritons and bulk polaritons at gratings (i.e., grating coupling) and in the asymmetrical two-interface configuration (i.e., prism coupling) and their use in determining the dispersion curves of surface polaritons is discussed. (Author)