  The excitation of the Uller-Zenneck surface wave in the optical regime was
theoretically investigated for planar as well as periodically corrugated
interfaces of two homogeneous, isotropic dielectric materials, with only one of
the two being dissipative. A practical configuration involving the planewave
illumination of a planar interface of the two partnering materials was found to
be unsuitable for experimental confirmation of the existence of this surface
wave. But, when the interface was periodically corrugated, the Uller-Zenneck
wave was found to be excited over a wide range of the angle of incidence. Air
and crystalline silicon were identified as suitable partnering materials for
experiments in the visible and ultraviolet spectral regimes.
