Surface-assisted ultralocalization in nondiffracting beams

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of localized light modes in multilayered media, leveraging surface plasmon polaritons and spectral bandgap effects to achieve enhanced, subwavelength confinement and superresolution along extended distances.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel mechanism for ultralocalization in nondiffracting beams using multilayered structures and surface plasmon polaritons, enabling subwavelength beamwidths over long distances.

Findings

Surface-assisted localized modes enable enhanced confinement.

Spectral bandgaps facilitate superresolution at interfaces.

Potential for subwavelength beam propagation over infinite distances.

Abstract

We present a family of localized radiation modes in multilayered periodic media, where in-phase superposition of p-polarized waves leads to radiative confinement around the beam axis. Excitation of surface plasmon polaritons yields an enhanced localization normally to the interfaces. On the other hand, the spectral filtering induced by the presence of bandgaps allows to achieve transverse superresolution on the interfaces. Subwavelength beamwidths along an infinitely long distance might potentially be obtained.