COURSE
TITLE/SECTION: PHYS
7324: Plasma Physics / 30741
PHYS 6231: Plasma Physics / 33718
TIME: MW: 4:00-5:30, B3324, UHCL; 138 SR1, UH
FACULTY: Prof.
Edgar A. Bering, III OFFICE
HOURS:W 1-3, 530D-SR-I
E-mail: eabering@uh.edu Phone: 713-743-3543 FAX:
713-743-3589
I. Course
A. Catalog
Description
7324:
Plasma Physics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Introduction to Plasmas, Single
Particle Motion, Plasmas as Fluids, Waves in Plasmas, Diffusion and
Resistivity, Equilibrium and Stability, Kinetic Theory, Non-linear Effects.
B. Purpose
These courses are intended to provide a one semester
graduate level introduction to the basic physics of plasmas. The course is
intended to serve the needs of both breadth seekers and students intending to
specialize in plasma science.
II. Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will:
1. Comprehend
the theoretical basis of contemporary laboratory plasma physics.
2. Solve basic problems in the plasma topics listed below.
III. Course Content
This course will include the following topics:
1. Introduction
to Plasmas
2. Single-particle
Motion
3. Plasmas
as Fluids
4. Waves
in Plasmas
5. Diffusion
and Resistivity
6. Equilibrium
and Stability
7. Kinetic
Theory
8. Non-linear
Effects
IV. Course Structure
The course will consist of lectures.
V. Textbooks
Required:
Introduction to Plasma Physics and
Controlled Fusion, 2nd Edition, Vol 1:Plasma Physics, F. F. Chen, Plenum Press, New York, 1984.
Recommended:
Fundamentals
of Plasma Physics, Paul M. Bellan,
Cambridge
University Press,
Cambridge,
UK
,
2005.
Waves
in Plasmas, T. H. Stix, American Institute of
Physics,
New York,
NY, 1992.
Physics
of Fully Ionized Gases: Second Revised Edition, L.
Spitzer, Jr.,
Dover
Books on Physics,
New York,
2006.
Principles
of Plasma Diagnostics, 2nd Edition, I. H. Hutchinson,
Cambridge
University
Press,
Cambridge,
UK
, 2005
VI Course Requirements
Lecture attendance is
mandatory.
A. Reading
Assignments
Ch 1-8 in Chen.
B. Written
Assignments
Written assignments will be
provided to all students who request them. These will consist of 1-4
mathematical problems per week.
C. Projects (as
needed)
D. Exams (as needed)
Examinations will be administered
to all students who request them. Total number is open to mutual agreement.
VII. Evaluation and Grading
It is assumed that students taking 7000 level graduate
electives no longer require the external disciplinary structure implicit in
grading. All students will be awarded A unless they cease attending.
Policy on grades of I (Incomplete): Incomplete will be awarded in the
event of documented major illness commencing after the last date to drop.
VIII. Consultation
INSERTED AT BEGINNING OF SYLLABUS
IX. Bibliography
Instabilities
in Space and Laboratory Plasmas, D. B. Melrose,
Cambridge
University
Press,
Cambridge,
UK
, 1986
Majestic
Lights: The Aurora in Science, History, and the Arts, Robert H.
Eather, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, 1980
Physics of
Space Plasmas, 2nd Edition, George K. Parks, Westview
Press, Boulder, CO, 2004
Quantitative
Aspects of Magnetospheric Physics, L. R. Lyons and D. J. Williams,
D. Reidel,
Dordrecht,
Holland, 1984
Physics of the Space Environment,
Tamas
I.
Gombosi,
Cambridge
University Press,
Cambridge,
UK
,
1998.
Introduction to Space Physics, Margaret G. Kivelson and
Christopher T. Russell,
Cambridge
University
Press,
UK
, 1995.
The
Solar-Terrestrial Environment, J. K. Hargreaves,
Cambridge
University
Press,
Cambridge,
UK
, 1992
Plasma Astrophysics,
Vol. I and II, D. B. Melrose, Gordon and Breach,
New York,
NY,
1980.
Introduction
to Plasma Physics: With Space and Laboratory Applications, D. A. Gurnett, A. Bhattacharjee, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2005.
