The manuscript tackles one of the most interesting branches of plasma phys ics, the electrodynamics of the plasma. 99% of matter in the universe occur in the plasma state, - e. g. , stars, gaseous nebulae, interstellar gas. The plasma also widely occurs on earth. Thus, the ionosphere protects human beings from the destroying effects of the solar radiation and provides the long distance radio communication. Plasmas also show up in metals and semicon ductors, and it is difficult to overestimate their importance in our everyday life. But even more important is that the power engineering of the future is connected with plasmas since the plasma is the fuel for thermonuclear reca tions and a practically unlimited source of energy harmless to the environ ment. For the description of a hot plasma a unique logically complete and consistent theoretical model has been developed on the basis of the Maxwell Vlasov equations. We tried to carry this idea through the entire text, which aims to present an orderly exposition of electromagnetic properties of the plasma within the Maxwell-Vlasov model. Both linear and nonlinear elec trodynamics of the plasma are presented. The first part (Chap. 1-5) deals with the linear electromagnetic properties of the plasma in thermodynamic equilibrium. The basic equations of the Maxwell-Vlasov model are introduced and the properties of the plasma in equilibrium are studied in the linear approximation of the electromagnetic field. The second part (Chaps.
This book presents the main mathematical methods of description and general problems in the theory of linear waves in dispersive systems and media, including equilibrium and nonequilibrium waves. To show how the general theory can be applied in practice, the authors give a unified description of the waves in all important physical systems which are traditionally studied in the mechanics of continuous media, electrodynamics, plasma physics, electronics and physical kinetics. Consideration is also given to the interaction of waves in coupled systems, the propagation and evolution of localized wave perturbations, and the emission of waves from dispersive media under the action of external sources moving in a prescribed manner. A general theory of instabilities of linear systems is given, in which the criteria for absolute and convective instabilities are formulated and compared, and Green's functions for some nonequilibrium media are calculated. Special attention is paid to problems in the theory of linear electromagnetic waves in plasmas and plasma-like media. The book also contains a number of original results of the present-day wave theory that have thus far been published in scientific journals only.
The manuscript tackles one of the most interesting branches of plasma phys ics, the electrodynamics of the plasma. 99% of matter in the universe occur in the plasma state, - e. g. , stars, gaseous nebulae, interstellar gas. The plasma also widely occurs on earth. Thus, the ionosphere protects human beings from the destroying effects of the solar radiation and provides the long distance radio communication. Plasmas also show up in metals and semicon ductors, and it is difficult to overestimate their importance in our everyday life. But even more important is that the power engineering of the future is connected with plasmas since the plasma is the fuel for thermonuclear reca tions and a practically unlimited source of energy harmless to the environ ment. For the description of a hot plasma a unique logically complete and consistent theoretical model has been developed on the basis of the Maxwell Vlasov equations. We tried to carry this idea through the entire text, which aims to present an orderly exposition of electromagnetic properties of the plasma within the Maxwell-Vlasov model. Both linear and nonlinear elec trodynamics of the plasma are presented. The first part (Chap. 1-5) deals with the linear electromagnetic properties of the plasma in thermodynamic equilibrium. The basic equations of the Maxwell-Vlasov model are introduced and the properties of the plasma in equilibrium are studied in the linear approximation of the electromagnetic field. The second part (Chaps.
This book presents the main mathematical methods of description and general problems in the theory of linear waves in dispersive systems and media, including equilibrium and nonequilibrium waves. To show how the general theory can be applied in practice, the authors give a unified description of the waves in all important physical systems which are traditionally studied in the mechanics of continuous media, electrodynamics, plasma physics, electronics and physical kinetics. Consideration is also given to the interaction of waves in coupled systems, the propagation and evolution of localized wave perturbations, and the emission of waves from dispersive media under the action of external sources moving in a prescribed manner. A general theory of instabilities of linear systems is given, in which the criteria for absolute and convective instabilities are formulated and compared, and Green's functions for some nonequilibrium media are calculated. Special attention is paid to problems in the theory of linear electromagnetic waves in plasmas and plasma-like media. The book also contains a number of original results of the present-day wave theory that have thus far been published in scientific journals only.