One-way Tamm plasmon-polaritons on the interface of magnetophotonic crystals and

conducting metal oxides

Hui Yuan Dong,1, 2 Jin Wang,1 and Tie Jun Cui3, ∗
1
Department of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
2
School of Science, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210003, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, Department of Radio Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
(Dated: October 8, 2018)
We demonstrate theoretically the existence of one-way Tamm plasmon-polaritons on the interface
between magnetophotonic crystals and conducting metal oxides. In contrast to conventional surface
arXiv:1210.5668v1 [physics.optics] 20 Oct 2012

plasmon-polaritons (SPPs), Tamm plasmon-polariton (TPPs) occur at frequencies above the bulk
plasma frequency of the conducting materials, provided that the dispersion curves of such surface
modes lie outside the light cone for the conducting oxides and simultaneously fall into the photonic
band gap of the magnetophotonic crystal. The nonreciprocal properties of TPPs are caused by
violation of the periodicity and time reversal symmetry in the structure. Calculations on the field
distribution and transmission spectra through the structure are employed to confirm the theoretical
results, which could potentially impact on a broad range of SPP-related phenomena in applications.

PACS numbers: 73.20.Mf, 41.20.Jb, 42.70.Qs

I. INTRODUCTION or the alternative surface structuring approach. More-

over, the confinement in the dielectric multilayer struc-
ture is due to the photonic band gap of the Bragg mirror,
There have been strong interests in the surface state instead of total internal reflection. Potential applications
predicted by Tamm in 19321, due to its key role in un- on TPPs10–17 have been found in the realization of optical
derstanding various fundamental properties of solids. In components, such as absorbers10, filters11 , and bistable
analogy with purely electronic states in a semiconductor, switches12 . It has also been found that one can achieve
optical surface states which can occur on the interface strong coupling between TPPs and the excitons from a
of optical superlattices were later analyzed theoretically quantum well13,14 or a quantum dot15 , and possibly uti-
and demonstrated experimentally by Yeh et al.2,3 . Such lize these states in the construction of a polariton laser
optical states were then called as optical Tamm states without a microcavity16 .
(OTSs)4 to distinguish from the purely electronic excita- On the other hand, SPPs may exhibit nonreciprocal
tion. The first experimental verification of OTSs on the properties in the presence of an external magnetic field.
interface of magnetophotonic and nonmagnetic photonic For example, Yu et al.18 demonstrated the existence of
crystals was reported by Goto et al. in 20085 . one-way electromagnetic waveguides formed at the inter-
Surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) are a related sur- face between a plasmonic metal under a static magnetic
face state formed on the boundary of metallic and dielec- field and a photonic crystal. Such a waveguide provides
tric media6 . The confinement in the metal is the result a frequency range where only one propagating direction
of the metal’s negative dielectric constant at frequencies is allowed. However, the working frequencies are limited
below its bulk plasma frequency, while the confinement to be lower than the bulk plasma frequency of metal,
in the dielectric media is due to the total internal reflec- satisfying the conditions that SPPs are bounded at the
tion. These surface plasmons propagate along the metal interface, that is the permittivity of the metal should be
surface with frequencies √ ranging from zero towards the negative.
asymptotic value ωp / 2, where ωp is the bulk plasma In surface-plasmon studies, gold and silver are typically
frequency. The dispersion curve of the surface plasmon employed with plasma frequencies above the visible or in-
lies to the right of the light line (given by ω = ckx , where frared part of electromagnetic spectrum. Recent experi-
kx is the in-plane component of the wave vector of light mental work has revealed the surface-plasmon resonance
and ω is the angular frequency), and therefore excita- phenomenon could be observable in a conducting metal
tion by light beams is not possible unless special tech- oxides thin film, with the smaller bulk plasma frequency
niques for phase-matching, such as prism and grating (i.e. ~ωp = 1 eV for indium tin oxide). In this work,
coupling, are employed. Recently, another form of sur- we aim to discuss the nonreciprocal properties for TPPs
face state, called Tamm plasmon polaritons (TPPs), was that may exist at an interface of magnetophotonic crys-
theoretically proposed and experimentally confirmed by tals (MPCs) and conducting metal oxides, at frequencies
Kaliteevski et al.7–9 . In contrast to a conventional sur- above the bulk plasma frequency of the conducting mate-
face plasmon polariton, Tamm plasmon polaritons can rials. In this case, although the permittivity of conduct-
be formed in both the TE and TM polarization, and be ing oxides is positive in the working frequencies, TPPs
observed at the interface between a metal and dielectric can be bounded at the interface of conducting oxides by
Bragg mirror without the use of prism, grating coupling total internal reflection on one side, and by the photonic
 2

band gap (PBG) of MPCs on the other. Furthermore, TM behavior in this configuration. The use of isotropic
the dispersion curves of TPPs modes lie in part inside dielectric layer, such as SiO2 glass (also characterized by
the light cone for free space, and such TPPs can be ex- the dielectric and magneto-optical parameters ǫa and ∆a ,
cited under direct illumination of a plane wave. We fur- respectively), provides good index contrast with BIG to
ther calculate the field pattern and transmission spectra create the band gap.
through the structure to support the spectral splitting in To show the one-way TPPs property, we find the dis-
the dispersion of wave propagating in the opposite direc- persion of TPPs by using the standard transfer matrix
tions. approach20,21 . First, we consider an infinite periodic
structure of MPCs, the transfer matrix associated with
it is
II. MODEL AND METHODS  
T11 T12
T̂ = = P̂a M̂ba P̂b M̂ab . (3)
T12
∗
T11
∗
Let us begin for the structure shown in Fig. 1, with a
semi-infinite conducting region on the left (z < 0) and a
The P̂i are the usual propagation matrices,
two-component MPCs on the right (z > 0). The unit cell
of MPCs consists of one isotropic dielectric and one mag-
 ik l 
e zi i 0
netooptical layer, with thickness la and lb , respectively. P̂i = , (4)
0 e−ikzi li
The relative permittivity of the conducting material is
taken to be of the Drude form where
r
ωp2 2π
ǫc (ω) = 1 − , (1) kzi = ( ni )2 − kx2 , (5)
ω(ω + iγ) λ0

where γ is the electronic collision frequency. For initial with λ0 the wavelength in vacuum, kx the component
calculations, we take γ = 0, but subsequently we con- of the wave vector in the plane of surface, and ni =
p
sider the effect of losses by assuming γ 6= 0. For the (ǫ2i − ∆2i )/ǫi the refractive index. The M̂ij are the in-
bulk plasma frequency of the conducting material, we terface matrices,
just choose ~ωp = 1 eV19 , which can occur in materials ǫ2j − ∆2j Fj∗ + Fi Fj∗ − Fi∗
 
such as indium tin oxide. M̂ij = , (6)
2ǫj kzj Fj − Fi Fj + Fi∗

...... where Fm = (ǫm kzm + i∆m kx )/(ǫ2m − ∆2m ), m = i, j. The

l1 eigenvectors of T̂ satisfy the relation
   
a0 iKΛ a0
...... T̂ =e (7)
lb la
b0 b0

x where Λ = la + lb is the MPCs period and K is the Bloch

lb wave vector. We can take a0 = T12 , and b0 = eiKΛ − T11 .
......
More generally, we can take a unit cell in which a first
y . O z
layer of index na with thickness l1 = σla , where σ ∈ [0, 1].
The general transfer matrix21 is given by T̂σ = P̂σ−1 T̂ P̂σ ,
FIG. 1: (color online) Schematic diagram of the structure,
comprising a semi-infinite metallic region on the left and a where P̂σ = diag(eikza l1 , e−ikza l1 ). We can easily find
semi-infinite MPCs on the right with their interface at z = 0. that T̂ and T̂σ have the same eigenvalues. The solution of
The period of MPCs is Λ. such eigenvalue problems gives Bloch modes of an infinite
MPCs in an explicit form.
To accomplish the required symmetry breaking, we The TPPs dispersion relation is then obtained by the
use a gyrotropic material, Bismuth iron garnet (BIG) for modal matching at the interface between the terminating
magnetooptical layer in the MPCs. The optical property layer of MPCs and the conducting metal oxides. Calcu-
of BIG is characterized by a dielectric tensor lation gives the following dispersion for the TPPs20,21 :
  n2c T12 e−2ikza l1 + T11 − eiKΛ
ǫb 0 i∆b qc = ikza , (8)
ǭb =  0 ǫb 0  , (2) n2a T12 e−2ikza l1 − T11 + eiKΛ
−i∆b 0 ǫb where qc is defined as
when the magnetization is along the y direction. As a
r
2π
consequence, TM and TE modes (H or E fields polarized qc ≡ −ikzc = kx2 − ( nc )2 (9)
λ0
along the y direction, respectively) are completely decou-
pled. Therefore, the one-way TPPs modes will keep the with nc refractive index of conducting metal oxides.
 3

III. RESULTS

To demonstrate the nonreciprocity of TPPs, we solve

the Eq. (8) numerically for a specific semi-infinite MPCs
with alternate layer of SiO2 (ǫa = 2.07 and ∆a = 0) and
BIG (ǫb = 6.25 and ∆b = 0.06), a period of Λ = 187
nm. We take the parameter σ = 0.4, which determines
truncation of the terminating layer of the structure (here
is SiO2 ). For the sake of illustration we have used ∆b =
0.6, which is ten times greater than the realistic material
constant22 .
FIG. 3: (color online) Out-of-plane magnetic field patterns for
2.3 the finite-size structure consisting of a conducting layer on the
surface of a 12 period MPCs, at the energy E+ = 2.054 eV
2.2 under front illumination (a) and back illumination (b), when
the incident angle is taken to be 75.60◦ .
2.1
Energy HeVL

2.0
of a plane wave. As an example, we respectively take the
1.9 in-plane wave vector kx+ = 0.3 ∗ 2π/Λ for forward illumi-
1.8 nation, and kx− = −0.3∗2π/Λ for backward illumination,
within the light line of free space for energies considered.
1.7 For both of such in-plane wave vectors, the PBG of the
infinite MPCs in Fig. 2 is between 1.899 and 2.128 eV
0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45
for the TM polarization. The corresponding energies for
Èk x ÈL2Π TPPs at kx+ , kx− are E+ = 2.054 and E− = 2.034 eV,
respectively, and we thus expect to see the wave perfectly
FIG. 2: (color online) Dispersion of TPPs at the interface of
propagating through the structure near the energy E+
conducting metal oxides and semi-infinite MPCs. Red and
blue lines correspond to the forward and backward propagat-
when the light is incident from front at an angle 75.60◦,
ing TPPs, respectively. Yellow and white regions correspond or near E− when light from back at an incident angle,
to bands and gaps of an infinite MPCs. Light curves for con- 77.97◦.
ducting metal oxides (dashed line) and free space (dotted line) The steady-state field patterns at the energy E+ are
are also shown. shown in Fig. 3. Counter-propagating plane waves are
incident from air upon either end of the MPCs. For the
We show in Fig. 2 the dispersion of the forward case of forward incidence, the field amplitude is remark-
(kx > 0) and backward (kx < 0) TPPs in the first pho- ably high at the interface between conducting metal ox-
tonic bandgap by red and blue lines, respectively. The ides and MPCs, and falls exponentially away from the in-
key result is that there exist asymmetric TPPs solutions, terface. Such a distribution confirms the formation of the
ω(kx ) 6= ω(−kx ), which lie above the bulk plasma fre- TPPs, providing complete transparency of the structure
quency of the metal (here given by ~ωp = 1 eV). The seen in Fig. 3(a). In contrast, for backward incidence
spectral splitting of the dispersion of waves propagating in Fig. 3(b), such excitation of TPPs is almost com-
in the opposite direction then gives rise to the nonrecip- pletely suppressed, resulting in low transmission through
rocal TPPs. Physically, such reciprocity develops from the structure. Thus such a structure demonstrates the
the magnetization as well as the violation of the peri- one-way total transmission.
odicity in MPCs, which is directly related to the matrix To support the above results, we have performed stan-
elements T11 and T12 of the transfer matrix and Bloch dard transfer matrix calculation of transmittance for the
wave vector K in Eq. (8). For the range of result shown, finite structure same as in Fig. 4. The results for the
the dispersion curves lie outside the light line for con- transmittance as a function of the conducting overlayer
ducting oxides, and in part within the light line for free with finite thickness d are shown in Fig. 4 under the light
space, indicating the associated modes are bounded at illumination of a plane wave. For larger conducting layer
the surface of conducting metal oxides, and also accessi- thickness of d = 4Λ, almost full transmission is obtained
ble to direct excitation by incident radiation without the along the forward direction at an energy near E+ , while
need for prism or grating coupling. complete reflection is obtained in the opposite direction
In order to give one a simple and instructive expla- at the same energy. Instead, the transmission peak along
nation of the discovered one-way character of TPPs, we the backward direction appears at near E− . Therefore
plot the out-of-plane magnetic field profile in Fig. 3 for strong nonreciprocity (given by T (kx+ ) − T (kx− )) at en-
a finite structure consisting of a conducting layer on the ergies E+ and E− is then achieved. These results are
surface of a 12 period MPCs, under the light illumination in excellent agreement with the infinite conducting over-
 4

nonreciprocity in absorptance.
1.0
(a) d=4

0.5

1.0
12 -1

0.0 (a) =10 rad s

Transmittance

Absorptance & Transmittance

1.0 0.5
(b) d=3

0.5 0.0
1.0
13 -1
(b) =10 rad s
0.0
1.0 0.5
(c) d=2

0.5 0.0
1.0
14 -1
(c) =10 rad s
0.0

2.00 2.02 2.04 2.06 2.08 2.10 0.5

Energy (eV)
0.0

2.00 2.02 2.04 2.06 2.08 2.10

FIG. 4: (color online) Transmission spectra for a set of struc- Energy (eV)

tures with different conducting overlayer thickness d on a

12-period MPCs: (a) d = 4Λ; (b) d = 3Λ; (c) d = 2Λ. FIG. 5: (color online) Absorption (solid lines) and transmis-
The calculations are for kx+ = 0.3 ∗ 2π/Λ (red line), and sion (dotted lines) spectra for the structure with thickness
kx− = −0.3 ∗ 2π/Λ (blue line), corresponding to the forward d = 2.2Λ of conducting overlayer as a function of collision
and backward illumination of light beams, respectively. frequency: (a) γ = 1012 rad s−1 ; (b) γ = 1013 rad s−1 ; (c)
γ = 1014 rad s−1 . Red and blue lines show the cases for
kx+ = 0.3 ∗ 2π/Λ (red line), and kx− = −0.3 ∗ 2π/Λ, respec-
layer dispersion curve results. As the thickness of the tively.
conducting layer is reduced, the transmission maximum
decreases, broaden, and shifts to lower energy, which is
due to the insufficient ability to confine the surface state
by thinner conducting layer. For smaller in-plane wave
vectors and smaller angles of incidence (not shown here),
thicker conducting layers are required in order to obtain
narrow spectral features.
To take into account the loss effect in the conducting
overlayer, we have carried out calculations in Fig. 5 for
the cases of different values of the collision frequency,
γ. As the loss is introduced, particularly in the case of
high γ, transmission may become negligible and signifi-
cant absorption can be observed in the structure. Fig. 5
shows the absorption and transmission spectra for a lossy
conducting layer of thickness d = 2.2Λ for the in-plane FIG. 6: (color online) Out-of-plane magnetic field patterns
wave vectors kx+ and kx− . As the collision frequency is for the similar structure in Fig. 3, but the loss is introduced
increased from γ = 1012 rad s−1 up to a maximum value in conducting metal oxides, under front illumination (a) and
1014 rad s−1 , there is an initial trend to a higher but back illumination (b). In this case, the excited TPPs energy
broader absorption maximum when the structure is for- E+ shifted slightly to 2.051 eV, the incident angle is also
changed to be 75.93◦ , the collision frequency γ = 1014 rad s−1 ,
ward illuminated by light beams (shown by the solid red
and the conducting layer thickness is assumed to be d = 2.2Λ.
line in Fig. 5). However, the situation becomes quite dif-
ferent in the opposite direction, and the absorption, also
with transmission efficiency tends to be weaker, even at
energies near E− (shown by solid and dotted blue lines
in Fig. 5, respectively). That is to say, the consequence IV. CONCLUSION
of the presence of such TPPs is visible in the absorption
spectra, only when the structure is under front illumina- In summary, we have studied that the nonreciprocal
tion. This can be clearly seen from the field patterns in TPPs can be supported at the interface between the con-
Fig. 6. Fig. 6(a) shows that nearly full absorption can be ducting metal oxides and MPCs at frequencies above the
achieved for front-illuminated structure, while the back- bulk plasma frequency. The key conditions require that
illuminated structure acts as a reflector shown in Fig. the dispersion curve of TPPs falls into the photonic band
6(b). Therefore, in the presence of the loss in conduct- gap of MPCs, and simultaneously lies outside the light
ing metal oxides, the proposed structure shows one-way cone for the conducting materials. The different positions
absorption or reflection. Also, it can be seen that the of the peaks in the transmission spectra further support
higher loss can give rise to stronger and broader-band the presence of spectral splitting of TPPs for the cases of
 5

front and back illumination, which agrees well with the 60990320, 60990324, 61138001, and 60921063, the 111
dispersion curves we have obtained. When the loss in Project under Grant No. 111-2-05, and by the Cam-
conducting materials is considered, the behavior of non- pus Funding No. NY210050 from Nanjing University of
reciprocal TPPs can still be observable in the absorption Posts and Telecommunications. We thank Prof. Kin
spectra. The results can be extended to more general Hung Fung for useful discussions.
systems provided that the required conditions are satis-
fied.

V. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported in part by the National Sci-

ence Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 11204036,

∗
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