Multiple surface plasmons on an unbounded quantum plasma half-space

Abstract

The propagation of surface plasmons on a quantum plasma half-space in the absence of any external confinement is investigated. By means of Quantum Hydrodynamic Model in the electrostatic limit it is found that the equilibrium density profile is a smooth continuous function which, in the linear regime, supports multiple non-normal surface modes. Defining a spectrum function and using a cutting condition, the dispersion relations of these modes and their relevance for realistic dynamics are computed. It is found that the multiple surface plasmons present a significant red-shift with respect to the case of fully bounded quantum plasmas.