SYMMETRIC SURFACE ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT FLAT INTERFACE PLASMA -VACUUM

As it is known the surface electromagnetic waves (SEW) can propagate along surface, which separates two media with the permittivity of different signs [1]. A lot of works devoted to studies and applications of plane SEW. We have shown that new type of SEW can propagate along the boundary of free plasma with vacuum. The equiphase surfaces of these waves are the circular cylinders in contrast to planes in case of conventional surface waves. The properties of these unconventional SEW are presented. The dispersion characteristics, the field distribution and Poynting vector for these waves were obtained. Comparison of properties of conventional and unconventional SEW have been analysed.