Wave propagation in a dusty, magnetized, strongly inhomogeneous plasma
at frequencies below the ion-cyclotron frequency, and near the dust c
yclotron frequency, is considered. The dust grains are assumed to carr
y a proportion of the negative charge of the plasma. Wave resonances a
nd cutoffs in a homogeneous plasma are discussed. The dispersion relat
ion for surface waves propagating on an interface between a dusty plas
ma and a vacuum is derived and studied, and their connection to surfac
e waves in general two-ion-species plasmas is analyzed. The damping of
the waves due to Alfven resonance absorption in a narrow but nonzero
width interface is derived, and it is shown that for a range of freque
ncies above the dust cyclotron frequency the surface wave can propagat
e undamped by resonance absorption. (C) 1998 American Institute of Phy
sics. [S1070-664X(98)02009-6].