Leaky surface electromagnetic waves on a high-index dielectric grating

Opt Lett. 2016 May 15;41(10):2229-32. doi: 10.1364/OL.41.002229.

Abstract

We show theoretically that the periodically corrugated surface of a high-index dielectric medium can support a leaky surface electromagnetic wave. This wave is bound to the surface in the vacuum, but radiates into the dielectric. Despite this radiative damping, the surface wave can have a long lifetime.