Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Characteristic Parameters of a Plasma
- 3 Single-Particle Motions
- 4 Waves in a Cold Plasma
- 5 Kinetic Theory and the Moment Equations
- 6 Magnetohydrodynamics
- 7 MHD Equilibria and Stability
- 8 Discontinuities and Shock Waves
- 9 Electrostatic Waves in a Hot Unmagnetized Plasma
- 10 Waves in a Hot Magnetized Plasma
- 11 Nonlinear Effects
- 12 Collisional Processes
- Appendix A Symbols
- Appendix B Useful Trigonometric Identities
- Appendix C Vector Differential Operators
- Appendix D Vector Calculus Identities
- Index
Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 March 2017
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Characteristic Parameters of a Plasma
- 3 Single-Particle Motions
- 4 Waves in a Cold Plasma
- 5 Kinetic Theory and the Moment Equations
- 6 Magnetohydrodynamics
- 7 MHD Equilibria and Stability
- 8 Discontinuities and Shock Waves
- 9 Electrostatic Waves in a Hot Unmagnetized Plasma
- 10 Waves in a Hot Magnetized Plasma
- 11 Nonlinear Effects
- 12 Collisional Processes
- Appendix A Symbols
- Appendix B Useful Trigonometric Identities
- Appendix C Vector Differential Operators
- Appendix D Vector Calculus Identities
- Index
Summary
This textbook is intended for a full year introductory course in plasma physics at the senior undergraduate or first-year graduate level. It is based on lecture notes from courses taught by the authors for more than three decades at the University of Iowa, Columbia University, University of New Hampshire, and Princeton University. During these years, plasma physics has grown increasingly interdisciplinary, and there is a growing realization that diverse applications in laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas can be viewed from a common perspective. Since the students who take a course in plasma physics often have a wide range of interests, typically involving some combination of laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas, a special effort has been made to discuss applications from these areas of research. The emphasis of the book is on physical principles, less so on mathematical sophistication. An effort has been made to show all relevant steps in the derivations, and to match the level of presentation to the knowledge of students at the advanced undergraduate and early graduate level. The main requirements for students taking this course are that they have taken an advanced undergraduate course in electricity and magnetism and that they are knowledgeable about using the basic principles of vector calculus, i.e., gradient, divergence, and curl, and the various identities involving these vector operators. Although extensive use is made of complex variables, no special background is required in this subject beyond what is covered in an advanced calculus course. Relatively advanced mathematical concepts that are not typically covered in an undergraduate sequence, such as Fourier transforms, Laplace transforms, the Cauchy integral theorem, and the residue theorem, are discussed in sufficient detail that no additional preparation is required. Although this approach has undoubtedly added to the length of the book, we believe that the material covered provides an effective and self-contained textbook for teaching plasma physics. MKS units are used throughout.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Introduction to Plasma PhysicsWith Space, Laboratory and Astrophysical Applications, pp. x - xiiPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2017