Harmonic surface wave propagation in plasma. I. Second order harmonic waves generated by one fundamental wave

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Abstract
Second order harmonic surface waves generated by one fundamental high-frequency surface wave are investigated experimentally in a gas discharge plasma. Two types of harmonic waves of equal frequency, associated with the linear dispersion relation and the synchronism conditions relatively propagate. The experimental conditions and the different space damping rates of the waves ensure the existence of different spatial regions (consecutively arranged along the plasma column) of a dominant propagation of each one of these two waves. This allows the authors to obtain directly experimental data both for the wavenumbers and the space damping rates by relatively precise methods for wave investigations such as the methods of time-space diagrams and of phase shift measurements. The results are explained by the theoretical model for nonlinear mixing of dispersive waves.