Kinetic theory of surface wave propagation along a hot plasma column

Abstract

In this paper we propose an exact solution of Vlasov and Maxwell's equations for a bounded hot plasma in order to derive the dispersion relation of the axially-symmetric surface waves propagating along a plasma column. Assuming specular reflexion of plasma particles from the boundary, expressions for the components of the electric displacement vector are obtained on the basis of the Vlasov equation. Their substitution in Maxwell's equations, neglecting the spatial dispersion in the transverse plasma dielectric function, allows us to determine the plasma impedance. The equating of plasma and dielectric impedances gives the wave dispersion relation which, in different limiting cases, coincides with the well-known results.