Surface Plasmon Polaritons: Creation Dynamics and Interference of Slow and Fast Propagating SPPs at a Temporal Boundary

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding the creation and interference of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at a temporal boundary, revealing how they form and interact over time.

Contribution

It introduces a Green's function-based analysis for SPPs excited by dipoles with media configuration changes at a temporal boundary, highlighting dynamic formation and interference.

Findings

Demonstrates dynamic SPP formation at a temporal boundary.

Shows interference effects between slow and fast SPPs.

Provides a Green's function framework for analyzing time-dependent SPP behavior.

Abstract

We establish the theoretical framework for a material system that supports surface plasmon polaritions (SPPs) excited by a dipole excitation, where the media configuration suddenly changes at a temporal boundary. We employ three-dimensional Green's function analysis in the Laplace transform domain. We use this framework to demonstrate dynamic SPP formation and time-boundary-induced interference of slow and fast propagating SPPs. This analysis provides insight into how SPPs are formed in time and how they interfere at a temporal boundary.