Resonance effects due to the excitation of surface Josephson plasma waves in layered superconductors

TL;DR

This paper analytically investigates how surface Josephson plasma waves can be resonantly excited in layered superconductors, leading to enhanced electromagnetic absorption and potential total absorption under specific conditions.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of resonance excitation of surface Josephson plasma waves and identifies conditions for total electromagnetic absorption in layered superconductors.

Findings

Resonance excitation significantly increases electromagnetic absorption.

Total absorption and suppression of reflection are achievable under certain conditions.

Bi2212 superconductor films can realize these absorption phenomena.

Abstract

We analytically examine the excitation of surface Josephson plasma waves (SJPWs) in periodically-modulated layered superconductors. We show that the absorption of the incident electromagnetic wave can be substantially increased, for certain incident angles, due to the resonance excitation of SJPWs. The absorption increase is accompanied by the decrease of the specular reflection. Moreover, we find the physical conditions guaranteeing the total absorption (and total suppression of the specular reflection). These conditions can be realized for Bi2212 superconductor films.