A rigorous theoretical formulation based on electromagnetic plane waves is utilized to construct a unified framework and identification of all possible surface-plasmon polariton solutions at an absorptive slab in a symmetric, lossless dielectric surrounding. In addition to the modes reported in literature, sets of entirely new mode solutions are presented. The corresponding fields are classified into different categories and examined in terms of bound and leaky modes, as well as forward-and backward-propagating modes, both outside and inside the slab. The results could benefit plasmon based applications in thin-film nanophotonics.
Background:The spectral polarization state and dimensionality of random light are important concepts in modern optical physics and photonics. Methods: By use of space-frequency domain coherence theory, we establish a rigorous classification for the electricfield vector to oscillate in one, two, or three spatial dimensions. Results: We also introduce a new measure, the polarimetric dimension, to quantify the dimensional character of light. The formalism is utilized to show that polarized three-dimensional light does not exist, while an evanescent wave generated in total internal reflection generally is a genuine three-dimensional light field.
Conclusions:The framework we construct advances the polarization theory of random light and it could be beneficial for near-field optics and polarization-sensitive applications involving complex-structured light fields.
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