Landau damping of electromagnetic transport via dielectric–metal superlattices

We discuss the propagation of electromagnetic waves through a one-dimensional periodic array of bilayers with metal inclusions. We show that the nonlocality of metal conductivity leads to the emergence of the fundamental collisionless Landau damping. It cannot be neglected, not only when prevailing over ordinary collision damping, but even when these two kinds of electromagnetic absorption are of the same order. Landau damping always exists and considerably alters the photonic transmission of the array within the THz and near-infrared frequency range.