Theory of Plasma Transconductance due to Landau Waves

We present here an N-pole circuit analysis of a network of parallel plane grids immersed in an isotropic hot-electron plasma. The associated self- and trans-impedances are expressed in terms of the discrete spectrum of electrostatic waves. Voltage-transfer ratios and transconductances between pairs of grid assemblies are calculated to study the feasibility of this scheme for launching and detecting Landau waves. Results show that widths of about 5 Debye lengths are optimum for modulator and detector gaps and that close-range transmission between gaps is predominantly due to the fundamental exponentially damped Landau wave.