Plasma Physics: An Introduction - Richard Fitzpatrick

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Résumé :
Encompasses the Lectured Works of a Renowned Expert in the Field Plasma Physics: An Introduction is based on a series of university course lectures by a leading name in the field, and thoroughly covers the physics of the fourth state of matter. This book looks at non-relativistic, fully ionized, nondegenerate, quasi-neutral, and weakly coupled plasma. Intended for the student market, the text provides a concise and cohesive introduction to plasma physics theory, and offers a solid foundation for students wishing to take higher level courses in plasma physics. Mathematically Rigorous, but Driven by Physics This work contains over 80 exercises-carefully selected for their pedagogical value-with fully worked out solutions available in a separate solutions manual for professors. The author provides an in-depth discussion of the various fluid theories typically used in plasma physics. The material presents a number of applications, and works through specific topics including basic plasma parameters, the theory of charged particle motion in inhomogeneous electromagnetic fields, plasma fluid theory, electromagnetic waves in cold plasmas, electromagnetic wave propagation through inhomogeneous plasmas, magnetohydrodynamical fluid theory, and kinetic theory. Discusses fluid theory illustrated by the investigation of Langmuir sheaths Explores charged particle motion illustrated by the investigation of charged particle trapping in the earth's magnetosphere Examines the WKB theory illustrated by the investigation of radio wave propagation in the earth's ionosphere Studies the MHD theory illustrated by the investigation of solar wind, dynamo theory, magnetic reconnection, and MHD shocks Plasma Physics: An Introduction addresses applied areas and advanced topics in the study of plasma physics, and specifically demonstrates the behavior of ionized gas.

Biographie:
Richard Fitzpatrick is a Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has been a faculty member since 1994. He is a member of the Royal Astronomical Society, a fellow of the American Physical Society, and the author of Maxwell's Equations and the Principles of Electromagnetism (2008), An Introduction to Celestial Mechanics (2012), and Oscillations and Waves: An Introduction (2013). He earned a Master's degree in physics from the University of Cambridge and a DPhil in astronomy from the University of Sussex.

Sommaire:
Introduction What is Plasma? Brief History of Plasma Physics Fundamental Parameters Plasma Frequency Debye Shielding Plasma Parameter Collisions Magnetized Plasmas Plasma Beta DeBroglie Wavelength Exercises Charged Particle Motion Introduction Motion in Uniform Fields Method of Averaging Guiding Center Motion Magnetic Drifts Invariance of Magnetic Moment Poincar'e Invariants Adiabatic Invariants Magnetic Mirrors Van Allen Radiation Belts Equatorial Ring Current Second Adiabatic Invariant Third Adiabatic Invariant Motion in Oscillating Fields Exercises Collisions Introduction Collision Operator Two-Body Elastic Collisions Boltzmann Collision Operator Collisional Conservation Laws Boltzmann H-Theorem Two-Body Coulomb Collisions Rutherford Scattering Cross-Section Landau Collision Operator Coulomb Logarithm Rosenbluth Potentials Collision Times Exercises Plasma Fluid Theory Introduction Moments of Distribution Function Moments of Collision Operator Moments of Kinetic Equation Fluid Equations Entropy Production Fluid Closure Chapman-Enskog Closure Normalization of Neutral Gas Equations Braginskii Equations Normalization of Braginskii Equations Cold-Plasma Equations MHD Equations Drift Equations Closure in Collisionless Magnetized Plasmas Langmuir Sheaths Exercises Waves in Cold Plasmas Introduction Plane Waves in homogeneous Plasmas Cold-Plasma Dielectric Permittivity Cold-Plasma Dispersion Relation Wave Polarization Cutoff and Resonance Waves in Unmagnetized Plasmas Low-Frequency Wave Propagation Parallel Wave Propagation Perpendicular Wave Propagation Exercises Wave Propagation Through Inhomogeneous Plasmas Introduction WKB Solutions Cutoffs Resonances Resonant Layers Collisional Damping Pulse Propagation Ray Tracing Ionospheric Radio Wave Propagation Exercises Magnetohydrodynamic Fluids Introduction Magnetic Pressure Flux Freezing MHD Waves Solar Wind Parker Model of Solar Wind Interplanetary Magnetic Field Mass and Angular Momentum Loss MHD Dynamo Theory Homopolar Disk Dynamo Slow and Fast Dynamos Cowling Anti-Dynamo Theorem Ponomarenko Dynamo Magnetic Reconnection Linear Tearing Mode Theory Nonlinear Tearing Mode Theory Fast Magnetic Reconnection MHD Shocks Parallel MHD Shocks Perpendicular MHD Shocks Oblique MHD Shocks Exercises Waves in Warm Plasmas Introduction Landau Damping Physics of Landau Damping Plasma Dispersion Function Ion Acoustic Waves Waves in Magnetized Plasmas Parallel Wave Propagation Perpendicular Wave Propagation Electrostatic Waves Velocity-Space Instabilities Counter-Propagating Beam Instability Current-Driven Ion Acoustic Instability Harris Instability Exercises Bibliography Index