Electromagnetic Surface Excitations

This volume is based on lectures and contributed papers presented at the Eighth Course of the International School of Materials Science and Tech nology that was held in Erice, Sicily, Italy at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture during the period 1-13 July 1985. The subject of the course was "Electromagnetic Surface Excitations". Forty lectures were given by eleven distinguished scientists and engineers from France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to the lectur ers, approximately fifty participants representing eleven different countries throughout the world t. ook part in the course. Short contributed papers were presented by seventeen participants on the results of their own re search. The subject of the Course is of great importance for both pure science and for practical applications such as telecommunications. A technolog ical revolution is occurring in which the transmission of information by means of electrical currents travelling in copper wires is being replaced by transmission by means of light travelling in objects known as optical wave guides. The manipulation and processing of the light signals prior and subsequent to transmission through the wave guide has resulted in a technology often referred to as integrated optics. Important to the opera tion of integrated optics devices is the behavior of electromagnetic waves near surfaces and interfaces. One of the goals of the course was to further the dialogue between engineers and physicists in common areas of interest related to the propagation of electromagnetic waves along surfaces.

In recent years the physics of electromagnetic surface phenomena has developed rapidly, evolving into technologies for communications and industry, such as fiber and integrated optics. The variety of phenomena based on electromagnetism at surfaces is rich and this book was written with the aim of summarizing the available knowledge in selected areas of the field. The book contains reviews written by solid state and optical physicists on the nonlinear interaction of electromagnetic waves at and with surfaces and films. Both the physical phenomena and some potential applications are dealt with. Included are discussions of nonlinear wave mixing on films and surfaces, second harmonic generation in waveguides and at surfaces, nonlinear waves guided by dielectric and semiconductor surfaces and films, surface gratings formed by high energy laser beams, and reflection and transmission switching of strong beams onto nonlinear surfaces. Chapters on light scattering from surface excitations and magnetic order-disorder and orientational phase transitions complete this essential contribution to the modern optics literature.

Cottam and Tilley provide an introduction to the properties of wave-like excitations associated with surfaces and interfaces. The emphasis is on acoustic, optic and magnetic excitations, and, apart from one section on liquid surfaces, the text concentrates on solids. The important topic of superlattices is also discussed, in which the different kinds of excitation are considered from a unified point of view. Throughout the book the authors are careful to relate theory and experiment and all of the most important experimental techniques are described. The theoretical treatment assumes only a knowledge of undergraduate physics, except for Green function methods that are used in a few sections; these methods are developed in an appendix. The book also contains extensive references to enable the reader to consult the research and review literature, and problems are provided in each of the main chapters to allow the reader to develop topics presented in the text.

For decades, the surface-plasmon-polariton wave guided by the interface of simple isotropic materials dominated the scene. However, in recent times research on electromagnetic surface waves guided by planar interfaces has expanded into new and exciting areas. In the 1990's research focused on advancing knowledge of the newly discovered Dyakonov wave. More recently, much of the surface wave research is motivated by the proliferation of nanotechnology and the growing number of materials available with novel properties. This book leads the reader from the relatively simple surface-plasmon-polariton wave with isotropic materials to the latest research on various types of electromagnetic surface waves guided by the interfaces of complex materials enabled by recent developments in nanotechnology. This includes: Dyakonov waves guided by interfaces formed with columnar thin films, Dyakonov-Tamm waves guided by interfaces formed with sculptured thin films, and multiple modes of surface-plasmon-polariton waves guided by the interface of a metal and a periodically varying dielectric material. Gathers research from the past 5 years in a single comprehensive view of electromagnetic surface waves. Written by the foremost experts and researchers in the field. Layered presentation explains topics with an introductory overview level up to a highly technical level.

Modern Problems in Condensed Matter Sciences, Volume I: Surface Polaritons: Electromagnetic Waves at Surfaces and Interfaces describes the basic properties of surface polaritons and the methods of generating these waves in the laboratory at frequencies of interest to condensed matter physicists. The selection first elaborates on surface phonon polaritons in dielectrics and semiconductors and surface exciton polaritons from the experimental viewpoint. Discussions focus on interface polaritons; surface vibrations in anisotropic crystals; experimental methods for the excitation and study of surface polaritons; and surface vibrations in isotropic crystals. The publication then ponders on surface electromagnetic wave propagation on metal surfaces; thermally stimulated emission of surface polaritons; and effects of the transition layer and spatial dispersion in the spectra of surface polaritons. The text takes a look at surface polaritons at metal surfaces and interfaces and resonance of transition layer excitations with surface polaritons. Topics include resonance of the film phonon with the substrate surface phonon polaritons; investigations of surface modifications in ultra-high vacuum; and use of surface plasma waves for the investigation of solid-liquid and solid-solid interfaces. The selection is a dependable reference for physicists and engineers wanting to conduct research on surface polaritons.

In this new work, the focus is on the dynamical response of metal electrons to several types of incident electromagnetic fields. The author, an eminent theorist, discusses Time-Dependent Local Density Approximation's importance in both elucidating electronic surface excitations and describing the ground state properties of electronic systems. Chapters detail theoretical formulations and computational procedures, covering such areas as single-particle and collective modes, spatial distribution of the induced surface charges, and local electric fields. Excitation spectra are shown for a variety of clean simple metals, noble metals, chemisorbed overlayers, charged surfaces, and small metal particles.

Electromagnetic surface modes are present at all surfaces and interfaces between material of different dielectric properties. These modes have very important effects on numerous physical quantities: adhesion, capillary force, step formation and crystal growth, the Casimir effect etc. They cause surface tension and wetting and they give rise to forces which are important e.g. for the stability of colloids. This book is a useful and elegant approach to the topic, showing how the concept of electromagnetic modes can be developed as a unifying theme for a range of condensed matter physics. The author concentrates in finding out the basic origin of the force and how they are developed from the collective excitations of the solids. Different materials are treated, e.g. metals, semiconductors, plasmas, liquids and gases all with different collective modes. In close relation to the theoretical background, the reader is served with a broad field of applications. The book serves readers who are concerned with applications to real world problems with a deep knowledge on surface modes, and inspires new developments of the field.