A nonlinear equation for electron surface waves at a plasma boundary

Abstract

A nonlinear equation for electrostatic electron surface waves at the boundary between a cold plasma and a dielectric is derived. Our analysis of this equation shows that the nonlinear disturbances at the plasma–dielectric interface may take the form of periodic travelling waves or standing waves with oscillating amplitudes. While the travelling waves are always periodic in space, the standing waves can be both periodic and localized.