Theoretical study of a plasma column sustained by a guided electrostatic wave in the presence of a constant axial magnetic field

We examine the axial structure of a surface and pseudosurface‐wave‐produced overdense plasma column immersed in a constant axial magnetic field. The theory allows us to derive dimensionless axial profiles of the normalized: plasma density, wave number, wave power, and wave electric field amplitude. Both cases of (i) weak magnetic field (ωc/ω 1, pseudosurface‐wave excitation) are considered in free fall, diffusion, and bulk recombination discharge regimes. In a weak magnetic field, only one mode (pure surface wave) can be excited, whereas in a strong magnetic field, many pseudosurface waves may occur.