EXCITATION OF SURFACE PLASMA-WAVES IN CROSSED ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC-FIELDS

The efficiency of the excitation of surface plasma waves in the presen ce of external, steady crossed magnetic and electric fields is studied analytically and numerically for a geometry in which the waves propag ate along the interface between a plasma-like medium and a metal in th e direction transverse to both fields. The magnetic and electric field s are assumed to be parallel and transverse to the interface, respecti vely. The condition for which the drift instability of the surface wav e arises is found.