Surface phonon—polariton coupling

Depending on the substrate excitations which are coupled with light into the SP mode, one distinguishes surface plasmon polaritons, surface phonon polaritons, surface exciton polaritons, etc. In this section we shall consider surface plasmon polaritons in some detail. This type of electromagnetic wave was first discussed by Sommerfeld in connection with the propagation of radiowaves along the Earth s surface (Sommerfeld 1909). 

---