We discuss the spectra of surface polaritons which can propagate in layered structures in which one of the constituent media has an anisotropic dielectric function. Some unusual aspects of the surface-polariton spectra are emphasized for slabs and superlattices, and are shown to be strongly influenced by the orientation of the principal axis of the anisotropic material. The theory is employed to obtain numerical results for surface-phonon-polaritons in layered structures containing α-quartz. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

• Received 18 January 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.54.2949