In this paper we study the propagation of transverse electromagnetic waves in a drifted plasma, in the presence of a longitudinal d.c. magnetic field. We first derive the complex conductivity of such a plasma containing two kinds of particles of opposite charge (for instance electrons and holes in a semiconductor). From the dispersion relations, we then deduce the conditions for instability or amplification of the wave. We derive the threshold drifting electric field E D0 as a function of the longitudinal magnetic field B 0 and the frequency of the wave. This formula is applied to a practical case, namely InSb at 77°K and 300°K.
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