Optical surface states at the interface between a metal and dielectric nanophotonic structure

Abstract

we have studied theoretically the formation of novel optical Tamm states at the interface between a metal nano-layer and one-dimensional dielectric photonic crystal. We have used transfer matrix method to study the mode formation at the interface between the metal and dielectric nanophotonic structures. Unlike the conventional optical surface states, optical Tamm states can be excited at normal incidence of light. They can also be excited for TE polarized light. The tunability of optical Tamm states and the factors effecting their formation is studied in detail. Our results have applications in non-linear optics and in optical communication.