Incoherent scattering from dielectric metasurfaces under the influence of electromagnetic eigenmodes.

Anomalous optical properties of microscopically inhomogeneous dielectric films placed on a thick metal sublayer are investigated. We study the reflection, scattering, and absorption of the coherent electromagnetic radiation as a function of the incidence angle. Computer simulations show the existence of the incidence angle of the laser beam when the scattering and absorption increase simultaneously for the s-polarization so that almost 60% of the incident light goes in the scattering channel. The critical angle corresponds to the excitation of Fabry-Perot mode. The effect makes it possible to manipulate the reflection from the metafilms.

Approach to visualization of and optical sensing by Bloch surface waves in noble or base metal-based plasmonic photonic crystal slabs.

The Bloch surface wave resonance (SWR) was visualized with the aid of plasmon absorption in a dielectric/metal/dielectric sandwich terminating a one-dimensional photonic crystal (PhC). An SWR peak in calculated spectra of such a plasmonic photonic crystal (PPhC) slab comprising a noble or base metal layer was demonstrated to be sensitive to a negligible variation of refractive index of a medium adjoining to the slab. The considered structure of PPhC slabs can be of practical importance because the metal layer is protected by a capping dielectric layer from contact with analytes and, consequently, from deterioration. We found that, in case of PPhC slabs, gold (the key element of the surface plasmon resonance-based biosensors) can be replaced by other metals. The PPhC-based sensors can be low-cost, reusable, and robust sensors having a sensitivity surpassing that of the known optical sensors.

Additional effective medium parameters for composite materials (excess surface currents).

Modified boundary conditions for composite material are suggested. The modified RT-retrieval procedure yields bulk values of effective impedance and refractive index, which are independent of system size and boundary realization, whereas the conductivities of the excess surface currents depend on the property of the interface. Simultaneous treatment of all the possible realizations of the system removes the dependence. The accuracy of the latter procedure is the same as the usage of static effective parameters, namely k(eff)d.

Optical Tamm states in one-dimensional magnetophotonic structures.

We demonstrate the existence of a spectrally narrow localized surface state, the so-called optical Tamm state, at the interface between one-dimensional magnetophotonic and nonmagnetic photonic crystals. The state is spectrally located inside the photonic band gaps of each of the photonic crystals comprising this magnetophotonic structure. This state is associated with a sharp transmission peak through the sample and is responsible for the substantial enhancement of the Faraday rotation for the corresponding wavelength. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Giant photonic Hall effect in magnetophotonic crystals.

We have considered a simple, square, two-dimensional (2D) PC built of a magneto-optic matrix with square holes. It is shown that using such a magnetophotonic crystal it is possible to deflect a light beam at very large angles by applying a nonzero external magnetic field. The effect is called the giant photonic Hall effect (GPHE) or the magnetic superprism effect. The GPHE is based on magneto-optical properties, as is the photonic Hall effect [B. A. van Tiggelen and G. L. J. A. Rikken, in, edited by V. M. Shalaev (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2002), p. 275]; however GPHE is not caused by asymmetrical light scattering but rather by the influence of an external magnetic field on the photonic band structure.

Band theory of light localization in one-dimensional disordered systems.

A simple approach to the problem of light localization in one-dimensional system is presented. The role of the Bragg reflection in one-dimensional localization of light is discussed. Contrary to the existent viewpoint, we show that the origin of band gaps of regular crystals and the localization due to disorder have a common nature, that is, the Bragg reflection. We expand the concept of band structure to random systems of finite thickness L and relate the Anderson localization of light with the total band gap growth, which is observed in our computer simulation of disordered system, as L increases.