Parametric Excitation of Surface Electromagnetic Waves by a Pump Wave Incident Obliquely on a Semi-Infinite Plasma

Abstract

Parametric excitation of surface waves by an s-polarized electromagnetic wave incident obliquely on a semi-infinite supercritical plasma is considered. The growth rates and thresholds of the instability associated with the decay of the pump wave into two surface electromagnetic waves are calculated as functions of the incidence angle and plasma electron density. It is shown that the instability growth rate depends linearly on the electric field of the pump wave and is maximal at a plasma electron density slightly exceeding the critical density.