Abstract

In continuation of a previous paper [J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27, 2218 (2010)], by solving a canonical boundary-value problem we found that the planar interface of a metal and a rugate filter can guide surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves with phase speeds greater than the speed of light in free space. These SPP waves can be either $p$ or $s$ polarized, and can have extremely high phase speeds, but are very loosely bound to the metal/rugate-filter interface. In two practically implementable configurations with both partnering materials of finite thickness, both $p$- and $s$-polarized SPP waves with high phase speeds can be excited, provided that the thickness of the rugate filter is much larger than needed for SPP waves with low phase speeds.

© 2012 Optical Society of America

On surface plasmon-polariton waves guided by the interface of a metal and a rugate filter with a sinusoidal refractive-index profile

Muhammad Faryad and Akhlesh Lakhtakia
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(11) 2218-2223 (2010)

Surface electromagnetic waves supported by the interface of two semi-infinite rugate filters with sinusoidal refractive-index profiles

Husnul Maab, Muhammad Faryad, and Akhlesh Lakhtakia
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 28(5) 1204-1212 (2011)

Excitation of multiple surface-plasmon-polariton waves guided by the periodically corrugated interface of a metal and a periodic multilayered isotropic dielectric material

Muhammad Faryad, Anthony Shoji Hall, Greg D. Barber, Thomas E. Mallouk, and Akhlesh Lakhtakia
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 29(4) 704-713 (2012)

Grating-coupled excitation of Tamm waves

Drew Patrick Pulsifer, Muhammad Faryad, and Akhlesh Lakhtakia
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 29(9) 2260-2269 (2012)

Multiple surface-plasmon-polariton waves guided by a chiral sculptured thin film grown on a metallic grating

Sema Erten, Muhammad Faryad, and Akhlesh Lakhtakia
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 34(9) 1937-1945 (2017)