Basics: Definition and classification of plasmas, the n-T diagram, electron plasma frequency, Debye length, electrostatic plasma waves, coulomb collisions
Motion of a charged particle: Uniform magnetic field, uniform magnetic field with non-magnetic forces, guiding center motion in nonuniform magnetic fields
Dielectric description: General properties, waves in cold unmagnetized plasma, dielectric tensor and waves in cold magnetized plasma
Magnetohydrodynamic description: MHD equations, general properties, MHD equilibrium, MHD waves, MHD stability, MHD shocks
Kinetic description: Vlasov equation, connections to fluid theories, Vlasov theory of electrostatic plasma waves, Landau damping, Fokker-Planck equation, binary Coulomb collisions
Organization
Lectures T Th 10:50 - 12:05 PM
Homework (40%)
Term exam (20%)
Presentation (10%)
Final exam (30%)
Text: R. O. Dendy, Plasma Dynamics
All information is representative only, and is likely to change from year to year.