The waveguide properties of a four-layer structure for which the permittivi
ty of the cover layer has a resonant frequency dependence in the optical ra
nge are investigated. The condition for maximum mode absorption is obtained
. It is observed that there is a frequency range in which the damping of th
e TE mode exceeds that of the TM mode. It is shown that the mode damping de
creases appreciably in the range of negative values of the cover layer perm
ittivity. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1063- 7850(99)00311-0].