Electrostatic surface waves in a magnetized two-fluid plasma

Abstract

Electrostatic surface waves propagating on the plane interface between a vacuum and a cold magnetized homogeneous plasma are investigated. The surface waves resulting from two different directions of the static magnetic field, normal to the interface and parallel to the direction of wave propagation, have the same frequency provided the strength of the magnetic held is the same. Furthermore, these two surface waves are complementary to each other in the sense that when one wave has strong surface-wave characteristics the other acts like a bulk wave, and vice versa. When the magnetic field is directed perpendicular both to the direction of wave propagation and the interface normal, a non-propagating zero-frequency mode is possible, as well as the two hybrid frequencies.