This well-illustrated monograph is devoted to classic fundamentals, current practice, and perspectives of modern plasma astrophysics. The first part of the book is unique in covering all the basic principles and practical tools required for understanding and work in plasma astrophysics. The second part represents the physics of magnetic reconnection and flares of electromagnetic origin in space plasmas in the solar system, single and double stars, relativistic objects, accretion disks, their coronae. The level of the book is designed mainly for professional researchers in astrophysics. The book will also be interesting and useful to graduate students in space sciences, geophysics, as well as to advanced students in applied physics and mathematics seeking a unified view of plasma physics and fluid mechanics.
This thoroughly revised textbook is a basic introduction to plasma phenomena in solar and stellar coronae emphasizing non-MHD aspects. The natural way in which the author unifies observations and theory gives a wide perspective to the subject. An important feature is the lucidly written presentation of the fundamentals of plasma physics. The basic theory thus developed is then extended to some exemplary and important observations of coronal dynamics, such as coronal currents, particle acceleration, propagation of particle beams, and shocks. The book has grown from teaching introductory courses on plasma astrophysics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). It addresses advanced undergraduates and first-year graduate students without a background in plasma physics. It will also be of interest to more senior research workers involved in coronal physics of the Sun and other stars, solar/stellar winds, and various other fields of plasma astrophysics.
Lectures Held at the Astrophysics School Vii, Organized
... 1994 (Lecture Notes in Physics , Vol 46
by the European Astrophysics Doctoral Network (Eadn in San Miniato, Italy,
Publisher: Springer
Number Of Pages: 326
Publication Date: 1996-04
Binding: Hardcover
Book Description
The book contains the notes of the lectures presented by outstanding experts at the 7th EADN School on plasma astrophysics. It is an up-to-date review of a number of basic topics in the physics of cosmic plasmas. The subject is treated both from a theoretical point of view and from that of the observational and diagnostic tools that provide us with the physically relevant data. The reader will have at hands a comprehensive and rather complete presentation of the subject, thanks also to the parallel development of the theoretical and experimental aspects. The book addresses graduate students and researchers in different areas who want to have a rapid and up-to-date introduction to this subject.
This volume presents the lecture notes of the 24th Advanced Course of the Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy in March 1994 at Les Diablerets. In three lectures on magnetohydrodynamics, on kinetic plasma physics and on particle acceleration leading experts describe the physical basis of their subjects and extend the discussion to several applications in modern problems of astrophysics. In style and presentation the texts are well-suited for graduate work in plasma astrophysics, one of the very important tools of modern astronomy. The themes developed in this book will be helpful in understanding many processes in the universe from the solar corona to active galaxies.
