Surface electromagnetic waves at gradual interfaces between lossy media

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the existence of low-loss surface electromagnetic waves at gradual interfaces between lossy media, with potential applications in underwater communication, imaging, and biomedical diagnostics across a wide frequency spectrum.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of surface waves at gradual lossy interfaces and explores their potential for practical applications in various media and frequency ranges.

Findings

Surface waves can exist at lossy media interfaces across UV to RF frequencies.

Potential for guiding surface waves at seafloor-seawater and tissue boundaries.

Applications in underwater communication, imaging, and medical diagnostics.

Abstract

A low loss propagating electromagnetic wave is shown to exist at a gradual interface between two lossy conductive media. The electromagnetic frequency range of this phenomenon may span from UV optics to RF range. In particular, it is demonstrated that such a surface wave may be guided by a seafloor-seawater interface and it may be used in radio communication and imaging underwater. Similar surface waves may also be guided by various tissue boundaries inside a human body. For example, such surface wave solutions may exist at planar interfaces between skull bones and grey matter inside a human head at 6 GHz.