Realization of One-Way Electromagnetic Modes at the Interface Between Two Dissimilar Metals

Abstract

We calculate the dispersion relations for electromagnetic waves propagating at the interface between two dissimilar Drude metals in an external magnetic field B parallel to the interface. The propagating modes are bound to the inteface and travel perpendicular to B. In certain frequency ranges, the waves can propagate in one direction only. The frequency range for these one-way modes increases with increasing B. One group of modes occurs at moderate frequencies, between the lower and upper plasma frequencies of the two metals. The other occurs at much lower frequencies, between their lower and upper cyclotron frequencies. We discuss possible ways to realize such modes in real materials, including dissimilar superconductors.