The dispersion of coupled phonon-plasmon modes of the superlattice formed by thin conducting layers separated between insulating layers is analyzed by using Maxwell’s equations, with the influence of retardation included. Both transmission for the finite plate as well as absorption for the semi-infinite superlattice in the infrared are calculated. Reflectance minima are determined by the longitudinal and transverse phonon frequencies in the insulating layers and by the density-state singularities of the coupled modes. We evaluate also the Raman cross section from the semi-infinite superlattice.

Institut Landau