Plasma: The Fourth State of Matter

ISBN-13: 9781468418989 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 160 str.

D. Frank-Kamenetskii

Opis

The idea for this book originated with the late Igor Vasil 'evich Kurchatov. He suggested to the author the need for a comprehen sive presentation of the fundamental ideas of plasma physics with out c'omplicated mathematics. This task has not been an easy one. In order to clarify the physical nature of plasma phenomena with out recourse to intricate mathematical expressions it is neces sary to think problems through very carefully. Thus, the book did not come into being by inspiration, but required a considerable ef fort. The aim of the book is to provide a beginning reader with an elementary knowledge of plasma physics. The book is primar ily written for engineers and technicians; however, we have also tried to make it intelligible to the reader whose knowledge ofphys ics is at the advanced-freshman level. To understand the book it is also necessary to have a working knowledge of electricity and magnetism of the kind available in present-: day programs in junior colleges. This book is not intended for light reading. It is designed for the reader for whom plasma physics will be a continuing in terest. We have confidence that such a reader will want to broad en his knowledge by consulting more specialized literature. Thus, we not only include simple expressions but also special important terms."

Spis treści

Production of a Plasma.- Plasma Diagnostics.- Quasi Neutrality and Charge Separation.- Polarization of a Plasma.- Gas Discharges.- Plasma Thermodynamics.- Elementary Processes.- Plasmas and Radiation.- Equilibrium and the Stationary Ionization States.- Plasmas as Conducting Fluids.- Field Diffusion and Plasma Diffusion.- Applications of the Conducting-Fluid Model.- Toroidal Plasma Traps.- Electromagnetic Pumping and Plasma Acceleration.- Magnetohydrodynamic Flow.- The Two-Fluid Model.- Plasma Conductivity in a Magnetic Field.- Plasma as an Ensemble of Independent Particles.- Drift Motion.- Electric Drift.- Conservation of Magnetic Moment.- The Adiabatic Traps.- Drift in an Inhomogeneous Field.- Polarization Drift.- Rotating Plasmas.- The Magnetization Current.- The Quasi-hydrodynamic Approximation.- Hydromagnetic Plasma Instabilities.- Pinch Instability.- Stabilization by Frozen-in Magnetic Fields.- Interchange or Flute Instabilities.- Diffusion of Opposed Fields.- Oscillations and Waves in Plasmas.- Electrostatic Plasma Oscillations.- Electrostatic Oscillations with Ions.- Plasma Oscillations in a Magnetic Field.- Dispersion near the Cyclotron Frequency.- Oblique Waves and General Classification of Oscillations.- Propagation of Radio Waves through a Plasma.- Plasma Resonators and Waveguides.- Excitation and Damping of Oscillations.- Shock Waves in Plasmas.- Random Processes.- The Drunkard’s Walk.- The Mean Free Path and the Collision Cross Section.- Collisions with Neutral Particles.- Coulomb Collisions.- The Establishment of Thermal Equilibrium.- Transport Processes in a Magnetic Field.- Ambipolar Diffusion.- A Recent Plasma Experiment.