Electromagnetic emission from two-dimensional plasmons in a semiconductor-dielectric structure with metal grating: Rigorous theory

The spectrum of electromagnetic (EM) radiation from two-dimensional(2D) plasmons in a semiconductor-dielectric structure with metal grating has been calculated in a strict electromagnetic approach. It is shown that radiation frequency and linewidth vary over a broad range of magnitude as a function of the grating parameters. The radiative decay linewidth is found to be two orders of magnitude larger than expected from the perturbation theory. Comparison of the results with previously published experimental data on 2D plasmons in GaAs heterostructures makes us conclude that the main contribution to the experimental decay linewidth arises from dielectric losses in the layers of the structure.