This compact and well-organized text provides an introduction to plasma physics and shows the interaction of plasmas without any external magnetic fields. It deals with the concepts, processes, and characteristic features associated with plasmas. The interaction of magnetic fields on plasma is purposely excluded in this introductory text to help students grasp the basics first, which makes the understanding of the effects of the magnetic fields easier in the subsequent courses. The book begins with a review of the concepts of kinetic theory of gases, collision phenomena in ionized gases and motion of charged particles. It goes on to give a discussion on the characteristic properties of plasmas and conditions to be satisfied for an ionized gas to show plasma behaviour. In addition, the text covers such topics as transport processes, plasma oscillations, and plasma as a dielectric medium, as a charged fluid, and as a many-body system. Finally, it provides a systematic analysis of important instabilities for an unmagnetized plasma, as well as a discussion on the radiation processes. The organization is systematic and the style lucid, with more physical insight and only relevant mathematics. The text is well illustrated, and the References and Bibliography at the end of the book should stimulate those students who have a desire to study the subject deeper. It is a one-semester text and is designed for the undergraduate, postgraduate and research students of science and engineering who wish to choose plasma physics, astrophysics or space physics as their special areas of study.

Introduction to Plasma Physics is the standard text for an introductory lecture course on plasma physics. The text's six sections lead readers systematically and comprehensively through the fundamentals of modern plasma physics. Sections on single-particle motion, plasmas as fluids, and collisional processes in plasmas lay the groundwork for a thorough understanding of the subject. The authors take care to place the material in its historical context for a rich understanding of the ideas presented. They also emphasize the importance of medical imaging in radiotherapy, providing a logical link to more advanced works in the area. The text includes problems, tables, and illustrations as well as a thorough index and a complete list of references.

Advanced undergraduate/beginning graduate text on space and laboratory plasma physics.

Introducing the principles and applications of plasma physics, this new edition is ideal as an advanced undergraduate or graduate-level text.

The field of quantum plasmas has a long and diverse tradition. The subject is becoming of increasing interest. This book synthesizes two fields: classical kinetic theory of collisionless plasmas and quantum electrodynamics. The whole approach is new and not seen in other texts. The book therefore provides a comprehensive introduction to a more general formalism for plasma kinetic and dispersion theory.

Physics of High Temperature Plasmas, Second Edition focuses on plasma physics and the advances in this field. This book explores the experimental observations on linear waves and instabilities. Comprised of 11 chapters, this edition begins with an overview of heat transition as a result of the heating of a solid or liquid substance. This book then examines the behavior of plasmas, which has great significance for the understanding of our universe. This text also investigates the possible application of plasmas, such as the application of hot plasma as thermonuclear fuel. Other chapters discuss the laws of plasma physics, with emphasis on those phenomena that are relevant to the operation of thermonuclear machines. This text discusses as well the electromagnetic forces on an earthly scale, the quantum effects, particle collisions, and Maxwell's equation. The final chapter of the book deals with the motion of charged particles. This book is intended for researchers engaged in plasma research and graduate students taking a course in plasma physics.

TO THE SECOND EDITION In the nine years since this book was first written, rapid progress has been made scientifically in nuclear fusion, space physics, and nonlinear plasma theory. At the same time, the energy shortage on the one hand and the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn on the other have increased the national awareness of the important applications of plasma physics to energy production and to the understanding of our space environment. In magnetic confinement fusion, this period has seen the attainment 13 of a Lawson number nTE of 2 x 10 cm -3 sec in the Alcator tokamaks at MIT; neutral-beam heating of the PL T tokamak at Princeton to KTi = 6. 5 keV; increase of average ß to 3%-5% in tokamaks at Oak Ridge and General Atomic; and the stabilization of mirror-confined plasmas at Livermore, together with injection of ion current to near field-reversal conditions in the 2XIIß device. Invention of the tandem mirror has given magnetic confinement a new and exciting dimension. New ideas have emerged, such as the compact torus, surface-field devices, and the EßT mirror-torus hybrid, and some old ideas, such as the stellarator and the reversed-field pinch, have been revived. Radiofrequency heat ing has become a new star with its promise of dc current drive. Perhaps most importantly, great progress has been made in the understanding of the MHD behavior of toroidal plasmas: tearing modes, magnetic Vll Vlll islands, and disruptions.