An electromagnetic analogy of quantum wells: guided plasmon resonances coupled to transverse electromagnetic waves in multilayered systems

Abstract

We present calculations for the electromagnetic reflectance spectra of finite multilayered systems (superlattices) made of very thin films of different thickness. In contrast to quantum resonances, for which there is only one kind of propagating waves, the electromagnetic resonances exhibited by these systems for non normal incidence are due to the longitudinal electromagnetic waves (or guided plasmons) coupled to the usual long-wavelength transverse electromagnetic waves. We employ a transfer matrix formalism for the layered system together with a hydrodynamic model for the electron dynamics. For 'realistic values of film thickness, a larger number of such resonances could be observed in multilayered systems formed by highly doped semiconductor layers rather than in systems formed by metallic layers.