PROPAGATION AND DIMENSIONAL RESONANCES OF HELICON-LIKE WAVES IN POWDERED SEMICONDUCTORS AND SEMIMETALS

Measurements of microwave transmission through inhomogeneous solid-state magnetoplasmas formed by InSb, InAs, HgTe, and HgSe powders are discussed and their main features quantitatively explained in terms of a scattering model. The theory asserts that propagation is dominated by magnetic dipole interactions with the grains, caused by dimensional resonances of helicon-like waves within the particles. These resonances are used to explain the anomalous sense of the strong gyromagnetic behavior observed in these multiply scattering media. Applications in several fields seem likely, including the construction of nonreciprocal microwave devices. © 1969 The American Institute of Physics.