Electromagnetic surface modes in a magnetized quantum electron-hole plasma

Abstract

The propagation of surface electromagnetic waves along a uniform magnetic field is studied in a quantum electron-hole semiconductor plasma. A new forward propagating mode, not reported before, is found by the effect of quantum tunneling, which otherwise does not exist. In the classical limit ($\hbar\rightarrow 0$) one of the low-frequency modes is found similar to an experimentally observed one in $n$-type InSb at room temperature. The surface modes are shown to be significantly modified in the case of high-conductivity semiconductor plasmas where electrons and holes may be degenerate. The effects of the external magnetic field and the quantum tunneling on the surface wave modes are discussed.