Abstract
Layered structures consisting of finite numbers of charge sheets separating dielectric layers are considered as physically realizable media for the control of dipole deexcitation due to spontaneous emission. The dispersion relation and the corresponding field distributions of a general structure are determined using transfer-matrix techniques. An excited dipole emitter localized in the vicinity of the truncation layer is coupled to the fields supported by such a structure, and its deexcitation rate is evaluated for a number of scenarios in which the structure is characterized by different numbers of charge sheets for varying excitation frequency and varying emitter position. The analysis highlights significant enhancements of the deexcitation rate which can be readily controlled through the adjustable parameters of the structure.