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Amplification of electromagnetic surface waves supported by a half‐space of a double stream of plasma
Author(s) -
Ha Kee Whan,
Seshadri S. R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs008i010p00877
Subject(s) - plasma , instability , surface wave , physics , electromagnetic radiation , two stream instability , plane (geometry) , streams , range (aeronautics) , wave shoaling , electromagnetic electron wave , waves in plasmas , mechanics , wave propagation , optics , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , materials science , geometry , mathematics , computer network , quantum mechanics , computer science , composite material
The characteristics of electromagnetic surface waves supported by a plane interface separating a semi‐infinite region of free space from another semi‐infinite region consisting of a double stream of plasma streaming parallel to the interface are investigated for the case in which the wave is progressing either in or opposite to the direction of the stream. The behavior of the surface wave is quite different from the case in which the plasma is stationary. For the case of waves progressing opposite to the direction of the streams, there are backward‐wave regions as well as regions of instability which occur below the plasma frequency. In the frequency range of instability, the surface wave undergoes traveling‐wave amplification in the direction of the streams. The wave amplification characteristics are examined and the dependence of each on the relative number density of the two streams as well as on the drift velocity is studied. It is found that the maximum amplification rate increases as the drift velocity is increased.