Propagation properties of surface TM modes in a hollow slab waveguide with a left-handed material substrate

We study the propagation properties of surface TM modes in a hollow slab waveguide which consists of the core and cover of right-handed material (RHM) and the substrate of left-handed material (LHM). Normalized frequency, normalized propagation constant and asymmetry measure are introduced to the left-handed material hollow slab waveguide. Dispersion relation is derived by using these normalized parameters, and universal dispersion curves have been obtained by solving transcendental dispersion equations analytically. We discuss the existence condition and other dispersion properties of guided surface TM modes in detail.