High-frequency surface waves at a plasma-metal interface: I. Linear model

A study is made of the dispersion properties of surface waves at a plasma-metal interface under thermodynamically nonequilibrium conditions such that a space charge sheath forms at the plasma boundary. In the simplest model, the sheath is described as a dielectric with a given permittivity. The wave parameters in a highly collisional plasma are discussed. The effect of interaction between waves propagating near the opposite plasma boundaries is considered, in particular, for space charge sheaths of different thicknesses. Conditions are determined under which the parameters of surface waves are substantially altered by the plasma-sheath geometric resonance.