Plasma Dynamics

Plasma is the name given to the state of matter that is found in the stars, and, on earth, in nuclear fusion experiments. This book gives a brief, clear introduction to the subject and relies on a minimum of previous knowledge of electricity and magnetism. Although it is comprehensive, it is sufficiently short to be covered in a single lecture course. Plasma is the physical state in which most of the visible matter in the universe is found. The properties of plasma are so distinctive that it is often referred to as the fourth state of matter. This book explains the fundamental concepts of plasma physics and provides an introduction to plasma particle dynamics, plasma waves, magnetohydrodynamics, plasma kinetic theory, two-fluid theory, and non-linear plasma physics. Emphasis is placed on the underlying physical principles, rather than on mathematical considerations. The most advanced background knowledge required consists of Maxwell's equations, and these are reviewed in the introduction. This book will be useful to undergraduates in physics and postgraduates in astrophysics, nuclear physics, and plasma physics and is short enough to be covered in a single lecture course.