Conversion of terahertz wave polarization at the boundary of a layered superconductor due to the resonance excitation of oblique surface waves

TL;DR

This paper predicts a complete polarization transformation of terahertz waves upon reflection from a layered superconductor boundary, caused by resonance excitation of oblique surface waves, with potential applications in terahertz optics.

Contribution

It introduces the phenomenon of TM-TE polarization conversion at layered superconductor boundaries due to oblique surface wave resonance, expanding understanding of terahertz wave interactions.

Findings

Complete TM-TE polarization transformation predicted

Resonance excitation of oblique surface waves analyzed

Dispersion relation for surface waves discussed

Abstract

We predict a complete TM-TE transformation of the polarization of terahertz electromagnetic waves reflected from a strongly anisotropic boundary of a layered superconductor. We consider the case when the wave is incident on the superconductor from a dielectric prism separated from the sample by a thin vacuum gap. The physical origin of the predicted phenomenon is similar to the Wood anomalies known in optics, and is related to the resonance excitation of the oblique surface waves. We also discuss the dispersion relation for these waves, propagating along the boundary of the superconductor at some angle with respect to the anisotropy axis, as well as their excitation by the attenuated-total-reflection method.