Plasma Physics and Fusion Plasma Electrodynamics
ISBN: 9780191749063
Platform/Publisher: Oxford Academic / Oxford University Press
Digital rights: Users: Unlimited; Printing: Unlimited; Download: Unlimited
Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics Plasma Physics;

Plasma is a ubiquitous state of matter at high temperatures. The electrodynamics of plasmas encompasses a large number of applications, from understanding plasmas in space and the stars, to their use in processing semiconductors, and their role in controlled energy generation by nuclear fusion. This book covers collective and single particle dynamics of plasmas for fully ionized as well as partially ionized plasmas. Many aspects of plasma physics in current fusion energy generation research are addressed both in magnetic and inertial confinement plasmas. Linear and nonlinear dynamics in hydrodynamic and kinetic descriptions are offered, making both simple and complex aspects of the subject available in nearly every chapter. The approach of dividing the basic aspects of plasma physics as "linear, hydrodynamic descriptions" to be covered first because they are "easier", and postponing the "nonlinear and kinetic descriptions" for later because they are "difficult" is abandoned in this book.

For teaching purposes, every chapter has a preamble which explains which aspects of the chapter are appropriate for an introductory graduate course, including a suggested number of lectures, and which should be postponed for a more advanced course. In addition, each chapter contains a large number of problems/exercises to choose from for assigned homework. An extensive set of mathematical appendices is included for easy reference.


Abraham Bers, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachussetts Institute of Technology

The late Abraham Bers was Professor of Electrical Engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

A longtime teacher of MIT's graduate course of Introductory Plasma Physics I, Professor Bers inspired generations of students to study plasma physics. As an educator, he was known for his meticulous lecture preparation. He was also for many years the plasma wave interaction group leader at MIT, and directed numerous theses of doctoral students who later became leaders in the field. His celebrated courses went on to become the basis for this two-volume text book.

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