Self-interaction of surface polaritons at the narrow-gap n-type semiconductor metal interface

The non-linear self-interaction of the potential surface polaritons (SP) which is due to the free carriers dispersion law where nonparabolicity is studied. The SP propagate at the interface between n-type semiconductor and a metal. The self interaction of the SP is shown to be different in semiconductors with normal and inverse zone structures. The results of the SP field envelope evolution are given. The obtained nonlinear frequency shift has been compared with shifts which are due to another self-interaction mechanisms. This comparison shows that the nonlinear self-interaction mechanism, which is due to free carriers spectrum nonparabolicity, is especially significant in narrow-gap semiconductor materials.

Dispersion properties of surface waves in a two-layer plasma structure bounded by a metal

The effect of the nonuniformity of the electron density on the dispersion properties of surface waves propagating in a direction transverse to an external magnetic field is studied for the model of a two-layer plasma structure bounded by a metal. It is shown that the spectra of the waves can be effectively controlled by varying the degree of nonuniformity of the density and the dimensions of the layers.

Self-interaction of magnetoplasma surface waves at a plasma-metal boundary

We investigate nonlinear self-interacting magnetoplasma surface waves (SW) propagating perpendicular to an external magnetic field at a plasma-metal boundary. We obtain the nonlinear dispersion equation and nonlinear Schroedinger equation for the envelope field of the SW. The solution to this equation is studied with regard to stability relative to longitudinal and transverse perturbations.

Azimuthal surface waves in a coaxial semiconductor structure with metal walls

The dispersion properties and topography of the fields of azimuthal surface wave (ASW) in a coaxial semiconductor structure with metal walls, placed in an external magnetic field, are investigated analytically and numerically. It is shown that an ASW phase-shifting device can be realized in the proposed structure. The conditions are indicated for which wave perturbations exist having frequencies that depend on the direction of phase change.

The effect of the nonparabolicity of the free carriers dispersion law on the propagation of surface polaritons in a semiconductor-metal structure

The results of a study on the influence of the nonparabolicity of the free carriers dispersion law on the propagation of surface polaritons (SPs) located near the interface between an n-type semiconductor and a metal arc reported. The semiconductor plasma is assumed to be warm and nonisothermal. The nonparabolicity of the electron dispersion law has two effects. The first one is associated with nonlinear self-interaction of the SPs. The nonlinear dispersion equation and the nonlinear Schrodinger equation for the amplitude of the SP envelope are obtained. The nonlinear evolution of the SP is studied on the base of the above mentioned equations. The second effect results in third harmonics generation. Analysis shows that these third harmonics may appear as a pure surface polariton, a pseudosurface polariton, or a superposition of a volume wave and a SP depending on the wave frequency, electron density and lattice dielectric constant.

Bistable regime of surface magnetoplasma waves excitation at a semiconductor-metal interface

The theoretical analysis of the bistability associated with the excitation of surface magnetoplasma waves (SWs) propagating across an external magnetic field at the semiconductor-metal interface by the attenuated total reflection (ATR) method is presented. The Kretschmann-Raether configuration of the ATR method is considered, i.e. a plane electromagnetic wave is incident onto a metal surface through a coupling prism. The third-order nonlinearity of the semiconductor medium is considered in the general form using the formalism of the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities and of the perturbation theory. The examples of the nonlinear mechanisms which influence the SW propagation are given. The analytical and numerical analyses show that the realization of bistable regimes of the SW excitation is possible. The SW amplitude values providing bistability in the structure are evaluated and are reasonably low to provide the experimental observation.

Nonlinear surface magnetoplasmons at the electron semiconductor-metal interface

The nonlinear self-interaction of the potential surface magnetoplasmons, propagating across the external magnetic field at the n-type semiconductor-metal interface is described in this manuscript. The studied nonlinearity is due to the free carriers dispersion law nonparabolicity and we show that it acts differently in semiconductor materials with normal and inverse band structures. The results of the nonlinear evolution of the surface magnetoplasmons are presented as well.

Tailoring of ion species composition in complex plasmas with charge exchange collisions

A generic approach towards tailoring of ion species composition in reactive plasmas used for nanofabrication of various functional nanofilms and nanoassemblies, based on a simplified model of a parallel-plate rf discharge, is proposed. The model includes an idealized reactive plasma containing two neutral and two ionic species interacting via charge exchange collisions in the presence of a microdispersed solid component. It is shown that the number densities of the desired ionic species can be efficiently managed by adjusting the dilution of the working gas in a buffer gas, rates of electron impact ionization, losses of plasma species on the discharge walls, and surfaces of fine particles, charge exchange rates, and efficiency of three-body recombination processes in the plasma bulk. The results are relevant to the plasma-aided nanomanufacturing of ordered patterns of carbon nanotip and nanopyramid microemitters.

Ion-acoustic waves in a complex plasma with negative ions

Negative ions and negatively charged micro- to nano-meter sized dust grains are ubiquitous in astrophysical as well as industrial processing plasmas. The negative ions can appear in electro-negative plasmas as a result of elementary processes such as dissociative or non-dissociative electron attachment to neutrals. They are usually rather small in number, and in general do not affect the overall plasma behavior. On the other hand, since the dust grains are almost always highly negative, even in small numbers they can take up a considerable proportion of the total negative charge in the system. The presence of dusts can affect the characteristics of most collective processes of the plasma since the charge balance in both the steady and dynamic states can be significantly altered. Another situation that often occurs is that the electron number density becomes small because of their absorption by the dust grains or the discharge walls. In this case the negative ions in the plasma can play a very important role. Here, a self-consistent theory of linear waves in complex laboratory plasmas containing dust grains and negative ions is presented. A comprehensive model for such plasmas including source and sink effects associated with the presence of dust grains and negative ions is introduced. The stationary state of the plasma as well as the dispersion and damping characteristics of the waves are investigated. All relevant processes, such as ionization, diffusion, electron attachment, negative-positive ion recombination, dust charge relaxation, and dissipation due to electron and ion elastic collisions with neutrals and dust particles, as well as charging collisions with the dusts, are taken into consideration.

Self-modulation of surface waves at a plasma-metal interface

The ponderomotive force effects on surface waves at a plasma-metal interface are studied. The waves propagate across an external magnetic field parallel to the interface. It is shown that the account of the ponderomotive force can lead to the appearance of solitons, which are not possible when the second-harmonic and magnetic nonlinearities are concerned. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.

Surface magnetoplasma waves at the interface between a plasma-like medium and a metal in the Voigt geometry

Theoretical and experimental results associated with the studies of different properties of surface-type waves (SW) in plasma-like medium-metal structures are reviewed. The propagation of surface waves in the Voigt geometry (the SW propagate across the external magnetic field, which is parallel to the interface) is considered. Various problems dealing with the linear properties of the SW (dispersion characteristics, electromagnetic fields topography, influence of the inhomogeneity of the medium, etc.); excitation mechanisms of the plasma-metal waveguide structures (parametric, drift, diffraction, etc. mechanisms); nonlinear effects associated with SW propagation (higher harmonics generation, self-interaction, nonlinear damping, nonlinear interactions, etc.) are presented. In many cases the results are valid for both gaseous and solid-state plasmas. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

On the realization of the current-driven dust ion-acoustic instability

The current-driven dust ion-acoustic instability in a collisional dusty plasma is studied. The effects of dust-charge variation, electron and ion capture by the dust grains, as well as various dissipative mechanisms leading to the changes of the particles momenta, are taken into account. It is shown that the threshold for the excitation of the dust ion-acoustic waves can be high because of the large dissipation rate induced by the dusts. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.

Resonant generation of the second harmonic of a surface wave on a plasma-metal boundary

The process of resonant generation of the second harmonic of the surface wave, propagating along the external magnetic field at the plasma-metal boundary is considered. The periodic process of the energy exchange between the first and the second harmonics of the wave is investigated as well. It is shown that the process under study is periodic one. The analytical expressions are obtained and numerical estimations are presented for characteristic time of nonlinear energy exchange. The self-action effect of main frequency wave is account for harmonics interaction. It is shown that the effect leads to nonlinear phenomena attenuation, which expresses in narrowing possible value interval of harmonics amplitudes during energy exchange process and in increasing the nonlinear interaction time.

Third harmonic generation of the surface wave in the semiconductor-metal slowing-down structure

A nonlinear process is considered of the surface wave third harmonics generation in a slowing-down semiconductor-metal structure. The process is conditioned by non-parabolicity of the charge carrier dispersion law. It is shown that in narrow-gap semiconducting materials it is necessary to account for the process together with the surface wave second harmonics generation conditioned by nonlinearity of quasi-hydrodynamics and the Maxwell equations. The conclusion is made that the third harmonies amplitude in narrow-gap semiconductors may exceed substantially the signal amplitude at the 3w frequency in a gas plasma and be of the same order with the surface waves second harmonies amplitude.

Effects of wall transition regions on surface-wave propagation in a plasma layer bounded by a metal

Effect of near-wall transition regions on the surface wave propagation in a magnetoactive plasma layer bounded by a metal. It is shown that the account for inhomogeneities of plasma density or magnetic field causes an appearance of coupling between surface waves, propagating across magnetic field and localized near difference boundaries of the structure. The resonance damping of surface waves is analyzed too.