Gradient-index nanophotonics

It is demonstrated that a new kind of low-loss surface electromagnetic wave may propagate along a planar surface inside a lossy medium if the medium permittivity changes continuously across such surface. Similar to surface plasmons, the wavelength of this wave may be considerably shorter than the light wavelength in free space, which may enable its applications in super-resolution microscopy and nanolithography techniques. However, unlike plasmonics-based nanophotonic devices, which are typically built using a very limited number of low loss optical materials, the newly found class of surface waves may be supported by a much broader range of lossy media. Such materials as graphite and silicon seem to be ideal in UV nanophotonics applications. The obtained results have broad applicability in other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum down to very low frequencies. For example, similar long-range surface electromagnetic radio waves are capable of propagating underwater along a sandy seabed, which may enable efficient underwater radio communication and imaging.