Surface Waves In Plasmas And Solids

A realistic description of plasmas, metals, semiconductors and insulators often requires spatially dispersive (non-local) models. This means that the dielectric function which characterizes the material medium depends on the wave-vector, as well as on the frequency. Surprisingly, there is no book which is entirely devoted to this important subject. The chapters presented in this book discuss electromagnetic (polariton) wave propagation in the bulk, at surfaces, in thin films and superlattices, in spheres and on cylinders. The emphasis is on advances in research in the last decade. Spatial Dispersion in Solids and Plasmas will be of multidisciplinary interest covering plasma physics, solid-state physics, optics, surface physics, and electrical engineering.

This book is the first of its kind devoted to surface waves propagating across an external static magnetic field at harmonics of the electron cyclotron frequency. Based on comprehensive theoretical studies carried out over the course of about forty years, it presents unique material on various characteristics of these transverse waves, namely, dispersion properties and their dependence on numerous design peculiarities of plasma waveguides; damping due to interaction with the plasma surface (the kinetic channel) and collisions between plasma particles (the Ohmic channel); interaction with flows of charged particles moving above the plasma surface; parametric excitation due to the effect of an external radiofrequency field; and their power transfer for sustaining gas discharges. Clarifying numerous complicated mathematical issues it is a valuable resource for postgraduate students and experts in plasma physics, electromagnetic waves, and the kinetic theory of plasmas.

This book presents a comprehensive theoretical study of the electromagnetic eigenwaves propagating perpendicular to the axis of symmetry in various cylindrical waveguide-structures filled with magneto-active plasma. It is the second, updated and significantly expanded edition of our book “Surface Flute Waves in Plasmas. Theory and Applications”, published in 2014 in the “Springer Series on Atomic, Optical, and Plasma Physics”. First, the text is complemented by a study of the wave energy rotation around the axis of the waveguides. Second, excitation of these waves by an electron beam gyrating around the axis is investigated in detail. “Surface waves” means that these waves only propagate along plasma surfaces and not in uniform infinite plasmas. Their wave amplitudes decrease with going away from the plasma boundary into the plasma depth. “Flute” means that the axial wavenumbers kz of the waves in plasma cylinders are assumed to be zero, and the waves only propagate in azimuthal direction. In this case, the surfaces of constant density resemble fluted Greek columns. However, the presence of a small but finite kz can be taken into account by the method of successive approximations, using the theory of surface flute waves as zeroth approach. A variety of present applications of surface waves and possible future applications are also included. The book applies to both professionals dealing with physical and technological problems of confined plasmas and to graduate and post-graduate students specializing in the fíelds of electrodynamics, plasma physics and related applications.

The book presents results of a comprehensive study of various features of eigen electromagnetic waves propagating across the axis of plasma filled metal waveguides with cylindrical geometry. The authors collected in one book material on various features of surface flute waves, i.e. impact of waveguide design on wave dispersion, wave damping influenced by various reasons, impact of plasma density and external magnetic field inhomogeneity on the wave, and impact of waveguide corrugation and electric current on the wave. A variety of present surface waves applications and possible future applications is also included. Using the method of successive approximations it is shown how one can solve problems, which concern real experimental devices, starting from simple models. The book applies to both professionals dealing with problems of confined plasmas and to graduate and post-graduate students specializing in the field of plasma physics and related applications.

This book draws together three areas of work on plasma technologies: advanced efforts based on wave generated, high frequency plasmas, plasma assisted ion implantation, and electron beam generated plasma. It lays a foundation for the application of sources in industry and various research areas