Diffraction of surface waves in metals and metamaterials

The diffraction of pulsed electromagnetic beams propagating along the interface between a dielectric and a metal or a metamaterial is investigated. The equation for slowly varying amplitudes of confined surface waves with a finite cross section size and duration is derived and solved. The dynamics of the diffractive-dispersive broadening of pulsed beams are examined. The conditions of surface dark soliton existence in media with Kerr nonlinearity are obtained.