Spectral theory for Maxwell’s equations at the interface of a metamaterial. Part I: Generalized Fourier transform

We explore the spectral properties of the time-dependent Maxwell’s equations for a plane interface between a metamaterial represented by the Drude model and the vacuum, which fill, respectively, complementary half-spaces. We construct explicitly a generalized Fourier transform which diagonalizes the Hamiltonian that describes the propagation of transverse electric waves. This transform appears as an operator of decomposition on a family of generalized eigenfunctions of the problem. It will be used in a forthcoming paper to prove both limiting absorption and limiting amplitude principles.