Dispersionless surface polaritons in the vicinity of different sections of optically uniaxial crystals

The sectors of propagation directions of dispersionless polaritons localized at the optically uniaxial crystal-optically isotropic medium interface are determined. The region of possible orientations of the crystal surface containing these sectors is revealed. The boundaries of the sector of possible propagation directions are analytically described as functions of the crystal surface orientation with respect to the optical axis of the crystal. Consideration is given to the optimum ratios of permittivities at which the width of the propagation sectors appears to be maximum. It is found that the boundaries of the sectors of polariton propagation along different surfaces change drastically in the limit of small dielectric anisotropy of the crystal. (C) 2002 MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica.