title: Light wheel buildup using a backward surface mode.
abstract: When a guided mode is excited in a dielectric slab coupled to a backward surface wave at the interface between a dielectric and a left-handed medium, light is confined in the structure: this is a light wheel. Complex plane analysis of the dispersion relation and coupled-mode formalism give deep insight into the physics of this phenomenon (lateral confinement and the presence of a dark zone).
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, LASMEA, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, CNRS, UMR 6602, LASMEA, F-63177 Aubière, France. Remi.Polles@univ‑bpclermont.fr
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pollès
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granet