Abstract: The propagation characteristics of surface electromagnetic TM waves on the superlattice are presensed in this paper. The analysis shows that the orientation angle θ of the crystal axis of the liquid crystal in superlattice plays an important role in the wave propagation. The dispersion relation, the distributions of the electric and magnetic fields of the waves are given respectively. The necessary conditions for the surface wave existence are:(1) θ=0 or θ=π/2, (2) The real part of the complex dielectric constant of the cladding material has minus value.

Key words: liquid crystal, superlattice, electromagnetic surface waves