Propagation of an electromagnetic wave in a stack of superconducting layers

The propagation of an electromagnetic wave in a stack of superconducting layers, which are separated by interleaving layers while still coupled closely to each other, is analysed based on the dispersion relation obtained by matching the tangential components of the fields, or, more easily, by using the 'transverse resonance' procedure. A stack of Josephson junctions, where the interleaving layers are thin insulators so that each pair of adjacent superconducting layers form a Josephson junction, is treated as an example, revealing that the thickness of the top and bottom layers plays an important role in determining the propagation while the effects of the normal metals as electric leads are negligible. (author)