Low-frequency Surface Waves in Thin Films of Plasma-like Media

Abstract

The results of theoretical analysis of low-frequency surface waves in thin films of plasma-like media (gaseous plasmas, electron-hole semi-conductor plasma, electron metals plasma) are presented. The wavelengths along the surface are assumed to be much larger than the thickness a of films with sharp boundaries. The mirror reflections of carriers from film surfaces are assumed. The general dispersion relation for surface waves is obtained and investigated in the low-frequency range, where the waves become potential (longitudinal) and the spatial dispersion of dielectric permittivity is essential.

The effect of quantum oscillation in plasmas

“…Generalizing earlier work [16,17], we now study the quantum oscillation effect in the frequency spectrum of a thin plasma layer with thickness a. Here we suppose that the geometry of this layer is similar to what was used in the semibounded case in the previous section.…”

“…As with the quantum effect on the frequency spectrum of surface waves, for an isotropic plasma-like medium, assuming the Z axis to be along the surface of the plasma medium and the X axis to be across it, we find the following dispersion equation for surface waves [16,17]:…”

“…Here we consider the quantum dispersion effect on the frequency spectrum of surface waves propagating on a semibounded cold plasma-like medium. In the classical case, the spectrum of surface waves has already been obtained [16,17]. It is obvious that the character of surface waves depends essentially on the properties of the plasma surface.…”

“…It is obvious that the character of surface waves depends essentially on the properties of the plasma surface. As we are interested in solid state plasmas, the structure of surface waves is determined by the crystal lattice surface, where it is assumed that the plasma has a sharp surface [16,17].…”

Theoretical study of the surface waves in semi-bounded quantum collisional plasmas

“…6 Due to their special properties, the surface waves have already been the subject of many theoretical, experimental, and numerical researches. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] These waves can be excited on a sufficiently dense plasma and essentially depend on the plasma properties. The surface waves propagation characteristics in dense plasmas are also affected by quantum effects.…”