Prequel: Kinetic Theory (MT), an undergraduate course on Electricity and Magnetism.
18 lectures.
Areas: CMT, Astro, foundational course.
Sequel: Collisional Plasma Physics (TT) (note however that this course is self-contained and can be taken
without continuing to Collisional Plasma Physics). (TT).
Please submit your homework for Collisionless Plasma Physics via the 'assignments' tab.
Part I. Magnetized plasmas:
Particle motion. Drift kinetics. Drift waves and slab Ion Temperature Gradient instability. Barnes damping of compressional Alfven waves.
Part II. Plasma waves:
Cold plasma waves in a magnetized plasma. WKB theory of cold plasma wave propagation in an inhomogeneous plasma, cut-offs and resonances. Hot plasma waves in a magnetized plasma. Cyclotron resonance.
Prof. Felix Parra Diaz
Take-home examination or no formal assessment; homework completion