Dispersion relations for electromagnetic surface waves on the boundary vacuum- metamaterial

Metamaterials are usually constructed as arrays of split-ring resonators. As the distance between resonators is comparable with their size, there is strong interaction between resonators, which results in rather strong... [ view full abstract ]

Metamaterials are usually constructed as arrays of split-ring resonators. As the distance between resonators is comparable with their size, there is strong interaction between resonators, which results in rather strong absorption. As a result, absorbing volumes are not so convenient for experiments with metamaterials, and boundary phenomena become very attractive. In the present work we proceed from the local-field approach [1] and show that the natural variation in properties of near-surface layer [2,3] enables the existence of electromagnetic surface waves on the boundary vacuum-metamaterial. The dispersion relation for surface TE-waves is obtained (Pic.1) for condition (Pic.2), where ε (ω ), μ (ω ) are permittivity and permeability of metamaterial; η (ω ) is a phenomenological parameter defining properties of the near-surface layer. For nonmagnetic media our results coincide with those from [3]. When the influence of the near-surface layer is negligible, we can neglect surface currents and charges, and our results coincide with [4]. Thus, we argue that the surface waves can exist on the surface of metamaterials owing to the natural variation in properties of itsnear-surface layer. We envision that our results open new opportunities to realize devices based on the special properties of surface waves propagation.

The work was supported by the Competitiveness Programme of National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI” and partially by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Russian Federation, grant No 3.2621.2017/4.6.

REFERENCES

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2. O.V. Porvatkina, A.A. Tishchenko, M.N. Strikhanov, “Permittivity and permeability of semi-infinite metamaterial,” IOP Conf. Ser., vol. 740, p. 012011, 2016.

3. M.I. Ryazanov, “The effect of the natural variation in the polarization of a near-surface layer on electromagnetic surfacewaves,” Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz., vol. 110, pp. 959-965, 1996.

4. N.V. Ilin, A.I. Smirnov, I.G. Kondratiev, “Features of surface modes in metamaterial layers,” Metamaterials, vol.3, pp.82-89, 2009.