Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
The theory for potential surface wave fluctuation spectra in cold, inhomogeneous, magnetized plasmas is reconsidered, adopting a transition probability approach. A fluctuation dissipation relation is derived, which is valid for general density profiles and which reduces to the familiar fluctuation dissipation theorem for homogeneous plasmas. Significant corrections to previous work are found. Particular spectra are calculated for the special case of a magnetized plasma with a one-dimensional inhomogeneity.