Electromagnetic properties of a dielectric grating. II. Quantum wells excited by surface waves

A quantum well excited by a rectangular grating is studied as a prototype of optical systems showing periodicity and spatial-dispersion effects. The optical nonlocal response of this system is computed and compared with the optical response of a quantum well excited by a prism in attenuated total reflection and with the ‘‘equivalent-slab model’’ of the grating. Additional effects due to the interplay between exciton-polaritons and confined electromagnetic modes are pointed out in such kinds of systems. The measured polarization dependence of photoluminescence from quantum-well excitons excited through a grating is explained. © 1996 The American Physical Society.