TOTAL BACKWARD REFLECTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC-RADIATION DUE TO RESONANT EXCITATION OF SURFACE-WAVES

We consider a p-polarized electromagnetic wave incident on a semi-infi nite plasma covered by a dielectric layer. The plasma density is suppo sed to vary periodically along the plasma surface. The coefficients fo r specular as well as backward reflection are calculated. We show that , for certain parameter values, the specular reflection vanishes compl etely because all the energy is reflected in the backward direction du e to the excitation of leaking surface waves.