Fast Backward Electromagnetic Surface Waves Directed by Boundary Between Vacuum and Mu-Negative Metamaterials

Abstract

We present a surface electromagnetic eigenmode of a plane separating the negative permeability metamaterial and vacuum. The wavefields decreased exponentially out of the interface between the media. This wave is of TE-polarization with an electric field paralleling the interface. Mode is a fast wave because its phase velocity is more than the speed of light. Besides., the mode is a backward wave since the phase and group velocities have opposite directions. Such fast surface electromagnetic waves can be used for designing modern so-called “fast-waves devices” for both wave generation and amplification.