One-way electromagnetic Tamm states in magnetophotonic structures

Abstract

We study surface Tamm states in magnetophotonic structures magnetized in the Cotton–Mouton (Voigt) geometry. We demonstrate that the periodicity violation due to the structure truncation together with the violation of the time reversal symmetry due to the presence of magneto-optical materials gives rise to nonreciprocality of the surface modes. Dispersion of forward and backward modes splits and becomes magnetization dependent. This results in the magnetization-induced transitions between bulk and surface modes and unidirectional propagation of surface waves.