Temperature-mediated transition from Dyakonov-Tamm surface waves to surface-plasmon-polariton waves

TL;DR

This study numerically explores how temperature changes induce a transition from Dyakonov-Tamm surface waves to surface-plasmon-polariton waves at an interface involving InSb, revealing significant effects on wave properties and energy confinement in the terahertz regime.

Contribution

It demonstrates the temperature-driven transition of surface waves and analyzes the resulting changes in their propagation characteristics and energy confinement.

Findings

Surface waves transition from Dyakonov-Tamm to surface-plasmon-polariton with temperature increase

Large propagation distances with energy confined mainly within the SCM

Simultaneous excitation of two distinct surface waves under certain conditions

Abstract

The effect of changing the temperature on the propagation of electromagnetic surface waves (ESWs), guided by the planar interface of a homogeneous isotropic temperature-sensitive material (namely, InSb) and a temperature-insensitive structurally chiral material (SCM) was numerically investigated in the terahertz frequency regime. As the temperature rises, InSb transforms from a dissipative dielectric material to a dissipative plasmonic material. Correspondingly, the ESWs transmute from Dyakonov-Tamm surface waves into surface-plasmon-polariton waves. The effects of the temperature change are clearly observed in the phase speeds, propagation distances, angular existence domains, multiplicity, and spatial profiles of energy flow of the ESWs. Remarkably large propagation distances can be achieved; in such instances the energy of an ESW is confined almost entirely within the SCM. For certain propagation directions, simultaneous excitation of two ESWs with (i) the same phase speeds but different propagation distances or (ii) the same propagation distances but different phase speeds are also indicated by our results.