Quantum surface wave on a thin plasma layer

Abstract

The results of theoretical analysis of the oscillation spectrum of a thin plasma layer placed in a very strong quantizing magnetic field are presented. It is shown that in the ultra-quantum limit and when the wave velocity is much larger than the ion and electron thermal velocity, quantum effects appear only if Z≠1, where Z=|ei/e| is the ion–electron charge ratio. In the two-component plasma with Z≠1 surface quantum waves are unstable, whereas in the one component plasma they are damping. At the same time, in the classical limit of magneto-confined plasma, surface waves excitation takes place and their frequency spectrum is placed in the microwave frequency range and, therefore, can be used for measuring the strength of very strong magnetic fields.