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Fundamentals of Plasma Physics is a general introduction designed to present a comprehensive, logical and unified treatment of the fundamentals of plasma physics based on statistical kinetic theory, with applications to a variety of important plasma phenomena. Its clarity and completeness makes the text suitable for self-learning and for self-paced courses.
Throughout the text the emphasis is on clarity, rather than formality, the various derivations are explained in detail and, wherever possible, the physical interpretations are emphasized. The mathematical treatment is set out in great detail, carrying out the steps which are usually left to the reader. The problems form an integral part of the text and most of them were designed in such a way as to provide a guideline, stating intermediate steps with answers.
List of contents
1. Introduction.- 2. Charged Particle Motion in Constant and Uniform Electromagnetic Fields.- 3. Charged Particle Motion in Nonuniform Magnetostatic Fields.- 4. Charged Particle Motion in Time-Varying Electromagnetic Fields.- 5. Elements of Plasma Kinetic Theory.- 6. Average Values and Macroscopic Variables.- 7. The Equilibrium State.- 8. Macroscopic Transport Equations.- 9. Macroscopic Equations for a Conducting Fluid.- 10. Plasma Conductivity and Diffusion.- 11. Some Basic Plasma Phenomena.- 12. Simple Applications of Magnetohydrodynamics.- 13. The Pinch Effect.- 14. Electromagnetic Waves in Free Space.- 15. Magnetohydrodynamic Waves.- 16. Waves in Cold Plasmas.- 17. Waves in Warm Plasmas.- 18. Waves in Hot Isotropic Plasmas.- 19. Waves in Hot Magnetized Plasmas.- 20. Particle Interactions in Plasmas.- 21. The Boltzmann and the Fokker-Planck Equations.- 22. Transport Processes in Plasmas.- Appendix A Useful Vector Relations.- Appendix B Useful Relations in Cartesian and in Curvilinear Coordinates.- Appendix C Physical Constants (MKSA).- Appendix D Conversion Factors for Physical Units.- Appendix E Some Important Plasma Parameters.- Appendix F Approximate Magnitudes in Some Typical Plasmas.
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Summary
Fundamentals of Plasma Physics is a general introduction designed to present a comprehensive, logical and unified treatment of the fundamentals of plasma physics based on statistical kinetic theory, with applications to a variety of important plasma phenomena.
Additional text
From the reviews of the third edition:
"This is an excellent introductory textbook of plasma physics, especially recommendable to those starting the study of the subject. … the book is an immense monography of 678 pages. Our impressions are good … ." (Iván Abonyi, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1084, 2006)
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From the reviews of the third edition:
"This is an excellent introductory textbook of plasma physics, especially recommendable to those starting the study of the subject. ... the book is an immense monography of 678 pages. Our impressions are good ... ." (Iván Abonyi, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1084, 2006)
