Coupling plasmons and dyakonons

Abstract

We study the coupling of plasmons and Dyakonov surface waves propagating at the interfaces between isotropic-birefringent-metal layered structures. Efficient coupling is shown to occur with a proper choice of the crystal birefringence, the refractive index of the isotropic medium, and the light propagation direction relative to the crystal optical axis. In the case of low-loss metals, coupling efficiencies as high as 90% are predicted to be possible.