We predict electromagnetic beam curling in metal-dielectric multi-layer structures.

Abstract: We study the propagation of plasmon polaritons in one-dimensional chirped metal-dielectric layered structures. We find an optical Wannier-Stark ladder in the mode spectrum and analyze Bloch oscillations associated with the coupling of surface plasmons localized at the metal-dielectric interfaces. For long structures, we find that the energy flow may dramatically change its direction, thus providing possibilities for the beam steering in the transmission band.

Keywords: beam steering; metal-insulator boundaries; plasmonics; plasmons; polaritons; surface plasmons

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