Plasma Physics: An Introduction to the Theory of Astrophysical, Geophysical and Laboratory Plasmas

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Cambridge University Press, Jun 2, 1994 - Science - 335 pages
Plasma 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
References
325
Author index
329
Subject index
331
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