Critically coupled surface phonon-polariton excitation in silicon carbide

Opt Lett. 2009 Sep 1;34(17):2667-9. doi: 10.1364/OL.34.002667.

Abstract

We observe critical coupling to surface phonon-polaritons in silicon carbide by attenuated total reflection of mid-IR radiation. Reflectance measurements demonstrate critical coupling by a double scan of wavelength and incidence angle. Critical coupling occurs when prism coupling loss is equal to losses in silicon carbide and the substrate, resulting in maximal electric field enhancement.