Surface Exciton Polariton

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical theory for surface exciton polaritons (SEPs) that incorporates spatial dispersion effects, providing complete dispersion relations and demonstrating potential for long-range coherence transfer.

Contribution

The paper introduces a comprehensive analytical model for SEPs that accounts for spatial dispersion and matches numerical results, advancing understanding of light-matter coupling at interfaces.

Findings

Spatial dispersion causes small broadening of SEPs.

The theory accurately predicts dispersion at a ZnO/vacuum interface.

SEPs can be used for long-range coherence transfer.

Abstract

In this paper, we have developed a theory describing surface exciton polariton (SEPs) that accounts for the spatial dispersion of the dielectric constant connected with exciton momentum. Due to strong coupling between light and bulk excitons in the frequency separation, $\hbar\omega_{LT}$, between the longitudinal and transverse exciton, the SEP is formed and behaves at partially light and partially matter. The dispersion of the SEP was found through a combined solution of Maxwell's and Thomas-Hopfield's equations. The analytical theory describes SEPs at any bulk exciton/vacuum interface and provides its complete dispersion if one knows $\hbar\omega_{LT}$, the exciton effective mass, $M$, and the high frequency dielectric constant, $\kappa_\infty$. The presented theory is in excellent agreement with the only numerical modeling of this problem, which was conducted for SEPs at a ZnO/vacuum interface. Calculations show the spatial dispersion of the dielectric constant leads to rather small broadening of the photon-like quasi-particle and suggests using SEPs for long-range coherence transfer.