Plasma Physics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 1-27

3. Definition of the Plasma State

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 29-43

4. Single Particle Motion in Electric and Magnetic Fields

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 45-71

5. Stochastic Processes in a Plasma

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 73-106

6. Fluid Models

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 107-131

7. Plasma Waves

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 133-167

8. Plasma Boundaries

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 169-195

9. Instabilities

   • Alexander Piel

   Pages 197-218

10. Kinetic Description of Plasmas

    • Alexander Piel

    Pages 219-257

11. Dusty Plasmas

    • Alexander Piel

    Pages 259-321

12. Plasma Generation

    • Alexander Piel

    Pages 323-350

13. Back Matter

    Pages 351-398

    PDF

This book is an outgrowth of courses in plasma physics which I have taught at Kiel University for many years. During this time I have tried to convince my students that plasmas as different as gas dicharges, fusion plasmas and space plasmas can be described in a uni ed way by simple models. The challenge in teaching plasma physics is its apparent complexity. The wealth of plasma phenomena found in so diverse elds makes it quite different from atomic physics, where atomic structure, spectral lines and chemical binding can all be derived from a single equation—the Schrödinger equation. I positively accept the variety of plasmas and refrain from subdividing plasma physics into the traditional, but arti cially separated elds, of hot, cold and space plasmas. This is why I like to confront my students, and the readers of this book, with examples from so many elds. By this approach, I believe, they will be able to become discoverers who can see the commonality between a falling apple and planetary motion. As an experimentalist, I am convinced that plasma physics can be best understood from a bottom-up approach with many illustrating examples that give the students con dence in their understanding of plasma processes. The theoretical framework of plasma physics can then be introduced in several steps of re nement. In the end, the student (or reader) will see that there is something like the Schrödinger equation, namely the Vlasov-Maxwell model of plasmas, from which nearly all phenomena in collisionless plasmas can be derived.

• Complex plasmas
• Controled nuclear fusion
• Gas discharges
• Magnetic confinement
• Magnetized plasma
• Nuclear fusion
• Plasma
• Plasma devices
• Plasma diagnostics
• Plasma discharge
• Plasma physics
• Textbook plasma
• Textbook plasma physics
• dusty plasma

From the reviews:

“Plasma Physics offers a broad and modern introduction to the many aspects of plasma science … . A curious student or interested researcher could track down laboratory notes, older monographs, and obscure papers … . with an extensive list of more than 300 references and, in particular, its excellent overview of the various techniques to generate plasma in a laboratory, Plasma Physics is an excellent entree for students into this rapidly growing field. It’s also a useful reference for professional low-temperature plasma researchers.” (Michael Brown, Physics Today, June, 2011)

• Inst. Experimentelle und, Angewandte Physik, Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany

  Alexander Piel

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