Electromagnetic wave band structure due to surface plasmon resonances in a complex plasma

The dielectric properties of complex plasma containing either metal or dielectric spherical inclusions (macroparticles, dust) are investigated. We focus on surface plasmon resonances on the macroparticle surfaces and their effect on electromagnetic wave propagation. It is demonstrated that the presence of surface plasmon oscillations can significantly modify plasma electromagnetic properties by resonances and cutoffs in the effective permittivity. This leads to related branches of electromagnetic waves and to the wave band gaps. The conditions necessary to observe the band-gap structure in laboratory dusty plasma and/or space (cosmic) dusty plasmas are discussed.

Figure 1

Qualitative behavior of the squared index of refraction ${\tilde{n}}^2$ vs squared frequency ${\omega }^2$ for an electromagnetic wave in the case ${\tilde{\omega }}_{\text{in}}>{\tilde{\omega }}_h$. The lower cutoff is at ${\tilde{\omega }}_h^2$.

Figure 2

Qualitative behavior of the squared index of refraction ${\tilde{n}}^2$ vs squared frequency ${\omega }^2$ for an electromagnetic wave in the case ${\tilde{\omega }}_{\text{in}}<{\tilde{\omega }}_h$.

Figure 3

Calculated squared index of refraction $n^2$ vs squared frequency ${\omega }^2$ of an electromagnetic wave in a plasma with metallic spherical inclusions (metallic dust); ${\omega }_{pe}/{\omega }_{pm}={10}^{-7},f=0.1$. The inset shows the behavior in the low-frequency and low-wave-number domain.

Figure 4

Calculated dispersion of electromagnetic wave bands in a plasma with spherical metallic inclusions (metallic dust); ${\omega }_{pe}/{\omega }_{pm}={10}^{-7},f=0.1$. The inset shows the cutoff at ${\omega }_{pe}$.

Figure 5

Calculated squared index of refraction ${\tilde{n}}^2$ vs squared frequency ${\omega }^2$ of an electromagnetic wave in a plasma with dielectric spherical inclusions (dielectric dust); ${\varepsilon }_d=2,f=0.1$.

Figure 6

Calculated dispersion of electromagnetic wave bands in a plasma with dielectric spherical inclusions (dielectric dust); ${\tilde{c}}^2=c^2/{\tilde{\varepsilon }}_{h,0}$, where ${\tilde{\varepsilon }}_{h,0}=(1+2{\tilde{f}}_0)/(1-{\tilde{f}}_0),{\tilde{f}}_0=f({\varepsilon }_d-1)/({\varepsilon }_d+2)$; ${\varepsilon }_d=2,f=0.1$.