Plasma I

PHYS-423 / 6 credits

Teacher: Theiler Christian Gabriel

Language: English

Summary

Following an introduction of the main plasma properties, the fundamental concepts of the fluid and kinetic theory of plasmas are introduced. Applications concerning laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas are discussed throughout the course.

Content

I Collisional and relaxation phenomena
- Inelastic collisions: ionization and recombination, degree of ionization
- Elastic collisions: Coulomb collisions
- Isotropisation and thermalisation
- Plasma resistivity and the runaway regime
II Transport in plasmas
- Random walk and diffusion
- Ambipolar and cross-field diffusion
- Energy and particle confinement
III Waves in cold magnetized plasma
- Dielectric tensor
- Resonances and cut-offs
- Parallel and perpendicular propagation
IV Wave-particle interaction and kinetic description of waves in hot
un-magnetized plasmas
- The Vlasov-Maxwell model
- Resonant wave-particle interaction and Landau damping
- Stability criteria and streaming instabilities
- Langmuir and ion-acoustic waves and instabilities
V Waves in hot magnetized plasmas
VI Examples of nonlinear effects

 

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

PHYS-324: Classical Electrodynamics, PHYS-325: Introduction to Plasma Physics

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Manipulate the fundamental elements of the plasma fluid and kinetic theory

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra and exercises in class

Assessment methods

oral exam

Resources

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Oral (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Plasma I
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Oral (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Plasma I
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Oral (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Plasma I
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Oral (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Plasma I
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Oral (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Plasma I
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: Oral (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Plasma I
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

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