COLLISIONAL PLASMA PHYSICS

Oxford Master Course in Mathematical and Theoretical Physics
("MMathPhys")
&
Centre for Postgraduate Training in Plasma Physics and High Energy Density Science


  Lecturer: Sarah Newton
Teaching Assistant: Javier Maurino-Alperovich

This is an MMathPhys course which we expect to be of interest to graduate students specialising in the physics (or applied mathematics) of gases and plasmas, and astrophysics.

Trinity Term 2019

LECTURES
Time and place TBD

CLASSES

Time and place TBD

Syllabus currently given below is subject to revision.

Any feedback is welcome!


FOKKER-PLANCK
COLLISION OPERATOR
Notes about the Fokker-Planck collision operator
1. Fokker-Planck collision operator
2. Collisions between electrons and ions
3. The linearized Fokker-Planck collision operator and the Spitzer-Harm problem
BRAGINSKII EQUATIONS
Notes about Braginskii equations
Braginskii fluid equations
RESISTIVE MHD
Notes about resistive MHD
Resistive MHD, reconnection and resistive tearing modes
TOKAMAK PHYSICS
Notes about tokamak physics
Tokamak physics: Pfirsch-Schlueter regime
PROBLEM SETS
Problem Set I (Due Fri 14-May-21)
Problem Set II (Due Fri 11-June-21)

BOOKS

  1. P. Helander & D. J. Sigmar, Collisional Transport in Magnetized Plasmas (Cambridge University Press 2002) (Amazon)
  2. R. D. Hazeltine & F. L. Waelbroeck, The Framework of Plasma Physics (Westview Press 2004) (Amazon)
  3. R. D. Hazeltine & J. D. Meiss, Plasma Confinement (Dover Publications 2003) (Amazon)
  4. R. Fitzpatrick, Plasma Physics: An Introduction (CRC Press 2014) (Amazon)
  5. R. J. Goldston & P. H. Rutherford, Introduction to Plasma Physics (CRC Press 1995) (Amazon)