Abstract

This paper theoretically predicts surface electromagnetic waves on the planar interfaces of media distinguished by gyration pseudotensors that describe natural optical activity. A twinned optically active crystal of one of the planal classes 3m, 4mm, or 6mm is discussed whose halves have rotational symmetry axes that coincide in the interface but differ in the signs of the gyration pseudotensors. It is shown that a weakly localized surface wave can propagate perpendicular to the crystal’s symmetry axis. Its dispersion equation is derived, and it is established how the characteristic penetration depth depends on the optical-activity parameter.

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