Abstract
We present a basic theory on Airy surface magneto plasmons (SMPs) at the interface between a dielectric layer and a metal layer (or a doped semiconductor layer) under an external static magnetic field in the Voigt configuration. It is shown that, in the paraxial approximation, the Airy SMPs can propagate along the surface without violating the nondiffracting characteristics, while the ballistic trajectory of the Airy SMPs can be tuned by the applied magnetic field. In addition, the self-deflection-tuning property of the Airy SMPs depends on the direction of the external magnetic field applied, owing to the nonreciprocal effect.
Highlights
Airy wave packets, which were first proposed as nonspreading beams by Berry and Balaz [1], have attracted a surge of interest since their experimental observation in free space [2, 3]
Compared with other diffraction-free wave packets, e.g. Bessel [9] and Mathieu [10] beams, Airy beams have a unique property such that they are the only nonspreading solution to the one-dimensional potential-free Schrödinger equation. This suggests that only Airy surface plasmon (SP) beams can propagate on a metal surface without diffraction
It is found in both theoretical studies [11, 12] and experimental observations [13, 14] that Airy SPs remain the properties of both SPs and free space-propagating Airy beams, including the energy confinement at a subwavelength scale and self-bending property of the Airy beams
Summary
Airy wave packets, which were first proposed as nonspreading beams by Berry and Balaz [1], have attracted a surge of interest since their experimental observation in free space [2, 3]. Compared with other diffraction-free wave packets, e.g. Bessel [9] and Mathieu [10] beams, Airy beams have a unique property such that they are the only nonspreading solution to the one-dimensional potential-free Schrödinger equation This suggests that only Airy surface plasmon (SP) beams can propagate on a metal surface without diffraction. It is known that when an external static magnetic field is applied on a metal or a semiconductor, propagation of the SP wave ( called surface magneto plasmons (SMPs) [15]) can be changed, due to the existence of the Lorentz force which alters the response of free carriers. Due to the nonreciprocal effect, the magnetic field applied in one direction can significantly change the tilting angle of the Airy SMPs, while has little effect when applied in the opposite direction
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