Fundamentals Of Ionized Gases

Plasma is a hot ionized gas containing nearly equal numbers of positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons. The characteristics of plasmas are significantly different from those of ordinary neutral gases so that plasmas are considered a distinct "fourth state of matter. The plasmas of interest to space physicists are extremely tenuous, with densities dramatically lower than those achieved in laboratory vacuums.This book 'Fundamentals of Ionized Gases' is intended to present a consistent and integrated treatment of the fundamentals of plasma physics including all aspects of the physics of hot, highly ionized plasmas. To clarify the behavior of the plasma flow in the perpendicular magnetic field, numerical simulations based on an electromagnetic hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) method have been carried out. This also deals with results of current experimental and theoretical research on all aspects of the physics of high-temperature plasmas and of controlled nuclear fusion, as well as the basic phenomena in highly-ionized gases in the laboratory, in the ionosphere and in space, in magnetic-confinement and inertial-confinement fusion along with associated diagnostic techniques.This serves as a valuable information resource to a comprehensive study of plasmas, ranging from low temperature and ideal plasmas and covering to radiation and particle transport phenomena, the response of plasmas to external fields, and treatment of plasma waves, plasma instabilities, nonlinear phenomena in plasmas, and the study of plasma relations with surfaces. Generally, the prominence is on a vibrant and integrated understanding of the physics that causes all plasma phenomena.

A comprehensive and readily accessible work for studying the physics of ionized gases, based on "Physics of Ionized Gases". The focus remains on fundamentals rather than on the details required for interesting but difficult applications, such as magnetic confinement fusion, or the phenomena that occur with extremely high-intensity short-pulse lasers. However, this new work benefits from much rearranging of the subject matter within each topic, resulting in a more coherent structure. There are also some significant additions, many of which relate to clusters, while other enlarged sections include plasmas in the atmosphere and their applications. In each case, the emphasis is on a clear and unified understanding of the basic physics that underlies all plasma phenomena. Thus, there are chapters on plasma behavior from the viewpoint of atomic and molecular physics, as well as on the macroscopic phenomena involved in physical kinetics of plasmas and the transport of radiation and of charged particles within plasmas. With this grounding in the fundamental physics of plasmas, the notoriously difficult subjects of nonlinear phenomena and of instabilities in plasmas can then be treated with comprehensive clarity. The work is rounded off with appendices containing information and data of great importance and relevance that are not easily found in other books. Valuable reading for graduate and PhD physics students, and a reference for researchers in low-temperature ionized gases-plasma processing, edge region fusion plasma physics, and atmospheric plasmas.

A comprehensive and readily accessible work for studying the physics of ionized gases, based on "Physics of Ionized Gases". The focus remains on fundamentals rather than on the details required for interesting but difficult applications, such as magnetic confinement fusion, or the phenomena that occur with extremely high-intensity short-pulse lasers. However, this new work benefits from much rearranging of the subject matter within each topic, resulting in a more coherent structure. There are also some significant additions, many of which relate to clusters, while other enlarged sections include plasmas in the atmosphere and their applications. In each case, the emphasis is on a clear and unified understanding of the basic physics that underlies all plasma phenomena. Thus, there are chapters on plasma behavior from the viewpoint of atomic and molecular physics, as well as on the macroscopic phenomena involved in physical kinetics of plasmas and the transport of radiation and of charged particles within plasmas. With this grounding in the fundamental physics of plasmas, the notoriously difficult subjects of nonlinear phenomena and of instabilities in plasmas can then be treated with comprehensive clarity. The work is rounded off with appendices containing information and data of great importance and relevance that are not easily found in other books. Valuable reading for graduate and PhD physics students, and a reference for researchers in low-temperature ionized gases-plasma processing, edge region fusion plasma physics, and atmospheric plasmas.

An introductory course in theoretical physics is the sole prerequisite for this general but simple introduction to the fields of plasma and fusion research. 1962 edition.