Magnetic Surface Waves in Plasmas

Abstract

The existence of a new type of surface wave in plasmas is demonstrated. These waves are intimately connected with the self-generation of magnetic fields in the laser-plasma interaction. The waves resemble waveguide modes in that a number of discrete modes can exist. The modes are localized to within a collisionless skin depth of the surface and, in the collisionless fluid limit, there is no restriction on the distance the waves can propagate.