Effects of Low-Frequency Instabilities on Plasma Surface Waves

Abstract

Surface wave propagation experiments have been performed on a fluctuating‐density plasma column. The wave is a highly attenuated backward wave in which the energy is being transferred to sideband frequencies. The amplitude of the sideband increases as the wave progresses down the plasma column. The total energy of the composite wave is conserved except for a loss due to electron—neutral collisions.