When the temperature of a gas is not too high and the density of a gas is not too low, the transfer of heat by radiation is usually negligibly small in comparison with that by conduction and convection. However, in the hypersonic flow of space flight, particularly in the re-entry of a space vehicle, and in the flow problem involving nuclear reaction such as in the blast wave of nuclear bomb or in the peaceful use of the controlled fusion reaction, the temperature of the gas may be very high and the density of the gas may be very low. As a result, thermal radiation becomes a very important...

Matter may be divided into four phases or states: solid, liquid, gas and plasma (ionized gas). The termfluid has been used as a general name for the last three states: liquid, gas, and plasma because they may be deformed without applying any force, provided that the change of shape occurs very slowly. Furthermore, when a large number of small solid particles flow in a fluid, if the velocity of the fluid is sufficiently high, the behavior of such solids is similar to ordinary fluid. We may consider these solid particles as pseudofluid. Under proper conditions, we may treat fluid flow problems...

This book is based on the lecture notes which the author gave in a seminar of the same title in the Institut fur theoretische Gasdynamik, D. V. L. e. V., Aachen, Germany, during the academic year of 1957-1958. The subject matter has been rewritten and expanded after the author's return to the University of Maryland. The purpose of this book is to give a theoretical introduction to plasma dynamics and magnetogasdynamics from the gasdynamic point of view. Attention is given to the basic assumptions and the formulation of the theory of the flow problems of a plasma, an ionized gas, as well as to...