CHARACTERISTICS OF SURFACE-WAVE PROPAGATION IN DISSIPATIVE CYLINDRICAL PLASMA COLUMNS

Electromagnetic surface waves dissipate energy as they propagate in pl asma columns. The transfer of energy to the discharge generally occurs through collisional processes - hence the name 'collisional' surface waves. It affects the direction of propagation of the wave, and is res ponsible in particular for the turning back of the axial wavenumber on the phase diagram. The rate of collisions also influences the respect ive contribution of surface waves and radiation (unguided) waves to th e total electromagnetic field. These considerations are of interest in improving the reliability and accuracy of the electron density diagno stic based on surface waves. This paper takes advantage of the many ar ticles published in the domain of guided waves for antennas.