Plasma Physics
5 credits
Syllabus, Master's level, 1FA258
A revised version of the syllabus is available.
- Code
- 1FA258
- Education cycle
- Second cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Physics A1F
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with credit (4), Pass with distinction (5)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 10 March 2011
- Responsible department
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
Entry requirements
120 credits with Mechanics II. Electromagnetic field theory. Complex analysis is recommended.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student shall be able to:
- define, using fundamental plasma parameters, under what conditions an ionised gas consisting of charged particles (electrons and ions) can be treated as a plasma
- distinguish the single particle approach, fluid appoach and kinetic statistical approach to describe different plasma phenomena
- determine the velocities, both fast and slow (drift velocities), of charged particles moving in electric and magnetic fields that are either uniform or vary slowly in space and time
- classify the electrostatic and electromagnetic waves that can propagate in magnetised and non-magnetised plasmas, and describe the physical mechanisms generating these waves
- define and determine the basic transport phenomena such as plasma resistivity, diffusion (classical and anomalous) and mobility as a function of collision frequency and of the fundamental parameters for both magnetised and non-magnetised plasmas
- formulate the conditions for a plasma to be in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, or non-equilibrium, and analyse the stability of this equilibrium and account for the most important plasma instabilities
- explain the physical mechanism behind Landau damping and make calculations in this area using kinetic theory
Content
Definition of plasma. Applications in physics and technology. Debye screening. Single-particle motions in electromagnetic fields and adiabatic invariants. Fluid models of plasmas. Waves in plasmas. Wave propagation, group velocity, cut-off and resonance. Collisions, resistivity and diffusion. Equilibrium and plasma instabilities. Elements of kinetic description of plasma and Landau damping. Electron and ion sources and beams. DC and RF - discharges as plasma sources.
Instruction
Lectures and Lessons
Assessment
Written examination at the end of the course.