Bloch vector dependence of the plasma frequency in metallic photonic crystals

We show that the plasma frequency in wire photonic crystals depends upon the Bloch vector. An accurate formula is given.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev.

Comment on "Large negative lateral shifts from the Kretschmann-Raether configuration with left-handed materials" Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 221102, 2005

The negative shifts seen by Wang and Zhu are not due to the excitation of surface plasmons but to leaky modes of the slab propagating backward. Provided the characteristics of the LHM slab are chosen correctly, it is shown that a leaky surface plasmon can actually be excited using the KR configuration