LEAKY ELECTROMAGNETIC-WAVE RESONANCES OF A PLASMA SPHERE

In the paper we consider theoretically electromagnetic modes in a homo geneous cold plasma sphere. We find, in addition to the surface transv ers magnetic modes, known from the electrostatic analysis of the same structure, two new families of weakly leaky modes (one of them consist ing of transverse electric modes). A classification of the modes is pr oposed. An approximate analytic expression for the wave damping rate o f surface modes due to energy leakage is given, making it possible to draw conclusions on the behavior of more complex three-dimensional pla smas. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.