Impulsive electromagnetic response of thin plasmonic metal sheets

The impulsive electromagnetic response of a thin metallic coating on a dielectric half-space is analytically investigated. Both TM- and TE-polarized electromagnetic fields in the configuration are excited by an impulsive line source. The problem is solved with the help of approximate thin film boundary conditions and the Cagniard-DeHoop technique. Closed-form space-time expressions for electromagnetic fields are found, numerically evaluated and discussed with regard to the pulsed excitation of surface plasmon phenomena.