Plasma Physics:Sturrock: An Introduction to the Theory of Astrophysical, Geophysical and Laboratory Plasmas

Plasma Physics is an authoritative and wide-ranging pedagogic study of the "fourth" state of matter. The constituents of the plasma state are influenced by electric and magnetic fields, and in turn also produce electric and magnetic fields. This fact leads to a rich array of properties of plasma described in this text. The author uses examples throughout, many taken from astrophysical phenomena, to explain concepts. In addition, problem sets at the end of each chapter will serve to reinforce key points. A basic knowledge of mathematics and physics is preferable to fully appreciate this text. This book provides the ideal introduction to this complex and fascinating field of research, balancing theoretical aspects with practical and preparing the graduate student for further study. Front cover......Page 1 Title page......Page 3 Date-line......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 11 2.1 Collective effects......Page 16 2.2 Charge neutrality and the Debye length......Page 17 2.3 Debye shielding......Page 19 2.4 The plasma parameter......Page 21 2.5 Plasma oscillations......Page 24 Problems......Page 27 3.1 Particle motion in a static, uniform magnetic field......Page 29 3.2 Particle motion in electric and magnetic fields......Page 32 3.3 Particle motion in magnetic and gravitational fields......Page 34 3.4 Particle motion in a time-varying uniform magnetic field......Page 35 Problems......Page 38 4.1 General adiabatic invariants......Page 42 4.2 The first adiabatic invariant: magnetic moment......Page 47 4.3 Relativistic form of the first adiabatic invariant......Page 48 4.4 The second adiabatic invariant: the bounce invariant......Page 50 4.5 Magnetic traps......Page 53 4.6 The third adiabatic invariant......Page 56 Problems......Page 57 5.1 Particle motion in a static inhomogeneous magnetic field......Page 59 5.2 Discussion of orbit theory for a static inhomogeneous magnetic field......Page 63 5.3 Drifts in the Earth's magnetosphere......Page 66 5.4 Motion in a time-varying electric field......Page 67 5.5 Particle motion in a rapidly time-varying electromagnetic field......Page 70 Problems......Page 73 6.1 The wave equation......Page 76 6.2 Waves in a cold electron plasma without a magnetic field......Page 78 6.3 Effect of collisions......Page 84 6.4 Electromagnetic waves in a cold magnetized electron plasma......Page 87 6.5 Wave propagation normal to the magnetic field......Page 89 6.6 Propagation parallel to the magnetic field......Page 92 6.7 Faraday rotation......Page 95 6.8 Dispersion of radio waves......Page 99 6.9 Whistlers......Page 101 Problems......Page 103 7.1 The dispersion relation......Page 107 7.2 Wave propagation in an electron plasma......Page 111 Problems......Page 114 8.1 Particle streams of zero temperature......Page 116 8.2 Two-stream instability......Page 119 8.3 Two identical but opposing streams......Page 121 8.4 Stream moving through a stationary plasma......Page 123 Problems......Page 126 9.1 Distribution functions......Page 128 9.2 Linear perturbation analysis of the Vlasov equation......Page 132 9.3 Dispersion relation for a warm plasma......Page 134 9.4 The Landau initial-value problem......Page 135 9.5 Gardner's theorem......Page 142 9.6 Weakly damped waves - Landau damping......Page 144 9.7 The Penrose criterion for stability......Page 146 Problems......Page 153 10.1 Lagrange expansion......Page 155 10.2 The Fokker-Planck equation......Page 157 10.3 Coulomb collisions......Page 159 10.4 The Fokker-Planck equation for Coulomb collisions......Page 163 10.5 Relaxation times......Page 169 Problems......Page 177 11.1 The moment equations......Page 179 11.2 Fluid description of an electron-proton plasma......Page 180 11.3 The collision term......Page 181 11.4 Moment equations for each species......Page 182 11.5 Fluid description......Page 183 11.6 Ohm's law......Page 185 11.7 The ideal MHD equations......Page 187 11.8 The conductivity tensor......Page 190 Problems......Page 192 12.1 Evolution of the magnetic field......Page 194 12.2 Frozen magnetic field lines......Page 196 12.3 Diffusion of magnetic field lines......Page 201 12.4 The virial theorem......Page 203 12.5 Extension of the virial theorem......Page 204 12.6 Stability analysis using the virial theorem......Page 207 Problems......Page 209 13.1 Introduction......Page 211 13.2 Linear force-free fields......Page 214 13.3 Examples of linear force-free fields......Page 216 13.4 The generating-function method......Page 218 13.5 Calculation of magnetic-field configurations......Page 222 13.6 Linear force-free fields of cylindrical symmetry......Page 224 13.7 Uniformly twisted cylindrical force-free field......Page 226 13.8 Magnetic helicity......Page 230 13.9 Woltjer's theorem......Page 233 13.10 Useful relations for semi-infinite force-free magnetic-field configurations......Page 234 Problems......Page 239 14.1 MHD waves in a uniform plasma......Page 243 14.2 Waves in a barometric medium......Page 249 Problems......Page 256 15.1 The linear pinch......Page 258 15.2 Stability analysis......Page 260 15.3 Boundary conditions......Page 261 15.4 Internally homogeneous linear pinch......Page 263 15.5 Application of the boundary conditions......Page 266 Problems......Page 268 16.1 Variation principle for a spatially distributed system......Page 270 16.2 Convection of magnetic field......Page 272 16.3 Variation principle of MHD motion......Page 274 16.4 Small-amplitude disturbances......Page 277 Problems......Page 279 17.2 Current sheet configuration......Page 282 17.3 Evolution of the magnetic field......Page 285 17.4 Equation of motion......Page 287 17.5 The tearing mode......Page 288 17.6 Solution of the differential equations......Page 291 Problem......Page 297 18 Stochastic processes......Page 298 18.1 Stochastic diffusion......Page 299 18.2 One-dimensional stochastic acceleration......Page 304 18.3 Stochastic diffusion, Landau damping and quasilinear theory......Page 307 Problem......Page 309 19.1 Quantum-mechanical description......Page 311 19.2 Transition to the classical limit......Page 314 19.3 The three-state model: emission and absorption......Page 315 19.4 Diffusion equation for the particle distribution function......Page 317 Problem......Page 319 Appendix A Units and constants......Page 321 Appendix B Group velocity......Page 324 Appendix C Amplifying and evanescent waves, convective and absolute instability......Page 329 References......Page 335 Author index......Page 339 Subject index......Page 341 Back cover......Page 346 Plasma Physics presents an authoritative and wide-ranging pedagogic study of the 'fourth' state of matter. The constituents of the plasma state are influenced by electric and magnetic fields, and in turn also produce electric and magnetic fields. This fact leads to a rich array of properties of the plasma state. A basic knowledge of mathematics and physics is preferable to appreciate fully this text. The author uses examples throughout, many taken from astrophysical phenomena, to explain concepts. In addition, problem sets at the end of each chapter will serve to reinforce key points. This book provides the ideal introduction to this complex and fascinating field of research, balancing the theoretical and practical and preparing the student for further study.