Plasma Physics and Fusion Plasma Electrodynamics

Descriere

Plasma is a ubiquitous state of matter at high temperatures. The electrodynamics of plasmas encompasses a large number of applications, from understanding plasmas in space and the stars, to their use in processing semiconductors, and their role in controlled energy generation by nuclear fusion. This book covers collective and single particle dynamics of plasmas for fully ionized as well as partially ionized plasmas. Many aspects of plasma physics in current fusion energy generation research are addressed both in magnetic and inertial confinement plasmas. Linear and nonlinear dynamics in hydrodynamic and kinetic descriptions are offered, making both simple and complex aspects of the subject available in nearly every chapter. The approach of dividing the basic aspects of plasma physics as "linear, hydrodynamic descriptions" to be covered first because they are "easier", and postponing the "nonlinear and kinetic descriptions" for later because they are "difficult" is abandoned in this book.

For teaching purposes, every chapter has a preamble which explains which aspects of the chapter are appropriate for an introductory graduate course, including a suggested number of lectures, and which should be postponed for a more advanced course. In addition, each chapter contains a large number of problems/exercises to choose from for assigned homework. An extensive set of mathematical appendices is included for easy reference.