Plasma Theory and Diagnostics II
Dr L. Fletcher
10 lectures, starting 25 January 2006
| The aim of this ten-lecture M-level course is to describe natural and laboratory plasmas in the two limits of orbit theory (the motion of individual particles) and magnetohydrodynamics (treating the plasma as a magnetised fluid). It expands on many of the concepts introduced in PTDI. |
Books
There is no single recommended course book,
however you will find the following useful:
Plasma Dynamics, R. O. Dendy (OUP)
Chapters 2, 4
Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Vol. 1: F. Chen, (Kluwer)
Chapters 2, 5, 6.
Physics of Space Plasmas; An Introduction (2nd edition) G. K. Parks (Perseus Books Group)
Chapters 1, 4, 5
High Energy Astrophysics, Volume 1, M. S. Longair
(CUP)
Chapter 3, For discussion of synchrotron, bremsstrahlung
Course Outline
Topics treated include:
Orbit Theory particle drifts in non-uniform E and B fields, magnetic
mirroring, radiation from gyrating charged particles
From Particles to Fluids description of the derivation of the
MHD equations
Magnetohydrodynamics equilibrium conditions, plasma diffusion,
induction equation and field-line merging
Applications the Sun, the Earth's magnetosphere and magnetic
confinement devices.
Lecture Notes
Below you will find pdf versions of the slides I have shown during the lectures. You will receive the handouts during the lectures themselves; however in the versions posted on the web I have implemented corrections which have been brought to my attention . You should therefore look at these to correct errors in the handouts. They are indicated in the slides with a little red tick.
Lecture 1 - Gyromotion
Lecture 2- E X B drift
Lecture 3 - Motion in a non-uniform
magnetic field; Gradient Drift, Curvature Drift
Lecture 4 - First adiabatic invariant, magnetic mirrors, loss-cones
Lecture 5 - Cyclotron and Synchrotron Radiation
Lecture 6 - Total power emitted,
synchrotron spectrum, and Faraday rotation
Lecture 7 - Introduction to kinetic theory, and derivation of MHD equations
Lecture 8 - MHD equilibrium, diamagnetic current
Lecture 9 - Cylindrical
Plasma - pinches, sausages and kinks.
Lecture 10 - Diffusion and resistivity - plasma
collisions and ambipolar diffusion, field diffusion
Question Sheet
Question sheet (updated May 2004) and model solutions:
[ Questions (Word document) ]