High-phase-speed Dyakonov-Tamm surface waves

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that high-phase-speed Dyakonov-Tamm surface waves can propagate along planar interfaces between chiral sculptured thin films and dissipative isotropic dielectrics, with phase speeds significantly exceeding those in bulk materials.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of high-phase-speed Dyakonov-Tamm surface waves supported by specific planar interfaces, supported by numerical studies.

Findings

HPSDT surface waves can have phase speeds up to 10 times faster than bulk isotropic dielectric waves.

Multiple distinct HPSDT surface waves can propagate in a single direction.

Numerical evidence supports the existence of these waves at planar interfaces.

Abstract

Two numerical studies, one based on a canonical boundary-value problem and the other based on a reflection-transmission problem, revealed that the propagation of high-phase-speed Dyakonov-Tamm (HPSDT) surface waves may be supported by the planar interface of a chiral sculptured thin film and a dissipative isotropic dielectric material. Furthermore, many distinct HPSDT surface waves may propagate in a specific direction, each with a phase speed exceeding the phase speed of plane waves that can propagate in the isotropic partnering material. Indeed, for the particular numerical example considered, the phase speed of an HPSDT surface wave could exceed the phase speed in bulk isotropic dielectric material by a factor of as much as 10.