The dispersion properties of ion-sound surface waves propagating between two parallel metal planes and some applications of these waves

Summary form only given. The dispersion properties and electromagnetic field topography of ion-sound surface waves (ISSW) propagating between two parallel metal planes are investigated. The presence of a vacuum-gap sheath region separating the metal planes from the plasma is assumed. The dependence of the surface-wave dispersion properties on plasma density, electron temperature, sheath thickness and thickness of plasma layer is presented for symmetrical and anti symmetrical surface waves. It is shown that in the case when the sheathes are absent the studied surface waves can not exist. The regions of frequencies where the symmetrical and anti symmetrical waves have a normal dispersion dependence and anti symmetrical ISSW have anomaly dispersion dependence is founded. The comparison of the dispersion curves obtained for the case of the ISSW propagating between a semiinfinitive plasma bounded vacuum medium is carried out. The shifts of wavenumber and frequency ranges compared with the case of a semiinfinitive plasma bounded vacuum region for cases of symmetrical and anti symmetrical waves is found too.