Plasma Physics: An Introduction to the Theory of Astrophysical, Geophysical and Laboratory PlasmasPlasma Physics is an authoritative and wide-ranging pedagogic study of the "fourth" state of matter. The constituents of the plasma state are influenced by electric and magnetic fields, and in turn also produce electric and magnetic fields. This fact leads to a rich array of properties of plasma described in this text. The author uses examples throughout, many taken from astrophysical phenomena, to explain concepts. In addition, problem sets at the end of each chapter will serve to reinforce key points. A basic knowledge of mathematics and physics is preferable to fully appreciate this text. This book provides the ideal introduction to this complex and fascinating field of research, balancing theoretical aspects with practical and preparing the graduate student for further study. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Basic concepts | 6 |
22 Charge neutrality and the Debye length | 7 |
23 Debye shielding | 9 |
24 The plasma parameter | 11 |
25 Plasma oscillations | 14 |
Problems | 17 |
Orbit theory uniform fields | 19 |
115 Fluid description | 173 |
116 Ohms law | 175 |
117 The ideal MHD equations | 177 |
118 The conductivity tensor | 180 |
Problems | 182 |
Magnetohydrodynamics | 184 |
122 Frozen magnetic field lines | 186 |
123 Diffusion of magnetic field lines | 191 |
32 Particle motion in electric and magnetic fields | 22 |
33 Particle motion in magnetic and gravitational fields | 24 |
34 Particle motion in a timevarying uniform magnetic field | 25 |
Problems | 28 |
Adiabatic invariants | 32 |
magnetic moment | 37 |
43 Relativistic form of the first adiabatic invariant | 38 |
the bounce invariant | 40 |
45 Magnetic traps | 43 |
46 The third adiabatic invariant | 46 |
Problems | 47 |
Orbit theory | 49 |
52 Discussion of orbit theory for a static inhomogeneous magnetic field | 53 |
53 Drifts in the Earths magnetosphere | 56 |
54 Motion in a timevarying electric field | 57 |
55 Particle motion in a rapidly timevarying electromagnetic field | 60 |
Problems | 63 |
Electromagnetic waves in a cold electron plasma | 66 |
62 Waves in a cold electron plasma without a magnetic field | 68 |
63 Effect of collisions | 74 |
64 Electromagnetic waves in a cold magnetized electron plasma | 77 |
65 Wave propagation normal to the magnetic field | 79 |
66 Propagation parallel to the magnetic field | 82 |
67 Faraday rotation | 85 |
68 Dispersion of radio waves | 89 |
69 Whistlers | 90 |
Problems | 93 |
Electromagnetic waves in an electronion plasma | 97 |
72 Wave propagation in an electron plasma | 101 |
Problems | 104 |
Twostream instability | 106 |
82 Twostream instability | 109 |
83 Two identical but opposing streams | 111 |
84 Stream moving through a stationary plasma | 113 |
Electrostatic oscillations in a plasma of nonzero temperature | 118 |
92 Linear perturbation analysis of the Vlasov equation | 122 |
93 Dispersion relation for a warm plasma | 124 |
94 The Landau initialvalue problem | 125 |
95 Gardners theorem | 132 |
96 Weakly damped waves Landau damping | 134 |
97 The Penrose criterion for stability | 136 |
Problems | 143 |
Collision theory | 145 |
102 The FokkerPlanck equation | 147 |
103 Coulomb collisions | 149 |
104 The FokkerPlanck equation for Coulomb collisions | 153 |
105 Relaxation times | 159 |
Problems | 167 |
MHD equations | 169 |
112 Fluid description of an electronproton plasma | 170 |
113 The collision term | 171 |
114 Moment equations for each species | 172 |
124 The virial theorem | 193 |
125 Extension of the virial theorem | 194 |
126 Stability analysis using the virial theorem | 197 |
Problems | 199 |
Forcefree magneticfield configurations | 201 |
132 Linear forcefree fields | 204 |
133 Examples of linear forcefree fields | 206 |
134 The generatingfunction method | 208 |
135 Calculation of magneticfield configurations | 212 |
136 Linear forcefree fields of cylindrical symmetry | 214 |
137 Uniformly twisted cylindrical forcefree field | 216 |
138 Magnetic helicity | 220 |
139 Woltjers theorem | 223 |
1310 Useful relations for semiinfinite forcefree magneticfield configurations | 224 |
Problems | 229 |
Waves in MHD systems | 233 |
142 Waves in a barometric medium | 239 |
Problems | 246 |
Magnetohydrodynamic stability | 248 |
152 Stability analysis | 250 |
153 Boundary conditions | 251 |
154 Internally homogeneous linear pinch | 253 |
155 Application of the boundary conditions | 256 |
Problems | 258 |
Variation principle for MHD systems | 260 |
162 Convection of magnetic field | 262 |
163 Variation principle for MHD motion | 264 |
164 Smallamplitude disturbances | 267 |
Problems | 269 |
Resistive instabilities | 272 |
173 Evolution of the magnetic field | 275 |
174 Equation of motion | 277 |
175 The tearing mode | 278 |
176 Solution of the differential equations | 281 |
Problem | 287 |
Stochastic processes | 288 |
181 Stochastic diffusion | 289 |
182 Onedimensional stochastic acceleration | 294 |
183 Stochastic diffusion Landau damping and quasilinear theory | 297 |
Problem | 299 |
Interaction of particles and waves | 301 |
192 Transition to the classical limit | 304 |
emission and absorption | 305 |
194 Diffusion equation for the particle distribution function | 307 |
Problem | 309 |
Units and constants | 311 |
Group velocity | 314 |
Amplifying and evanescent waves convective and absolute instability | 319 |
325 | |
329 | |
331 | |
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Plasma Physics: An Introduction to the Theory of Astrophysical, Geophysical ... Peter Andrew Sturrock No preview available - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
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