Induction and switching of surface optical modes by constant electric field in plane dielectric waveguide

Abstract

Electromagnetic waves of IR and optical ranges of spectrum in uniaxial insulator with metallic covers in the presence of a constant electric field perpendicular to a waveguide surface have been considered. It is shown that dynamic magnetoelectric interaction induces toroidal excitations which decrease the energy of volume modes transforming it into the surface ones. This effect is proportional to the value of a static electric field and the thickness of the slab. Surface polariton of a given frequency propagates only along one boundary. The changes of the frequency branch or the direction of a constant electric field switch electromagnetic wave from given boundary to another one.