Hyperbolic metamaterial interface: propagation of surface waves

Abstract

Herein we study propagation of surface waves at a boundary of an isotropic media and a multilayered hyperbolic metamaterial. The structure dispersion is discussed for various cases of a hyperbolic metamaterial. It is demonstrated that it is possible to tune the frequency range of surface waves by varying the thickness of dielectric sheets. It is also shown that this frequency range can be broadened by decreasing the thickness of the dielectric in the metal-dielectric compound or by replacing the isotropic media with a metal. It is also shown that the mentioned effect can be achieved by increasing the doping concentration of the semiconductor if the metamaterial/semiconductor structure is considered. The effective medium approximation is used and its validity in the long-wavelength limit is justified by investigating the electromagnetic field variations over one period of the proposed structure.