eBook Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion: Volume 1: Plasma Physics download

Having used, read more than a dozen plasma physics monographs, and used at least two for a Ph.D. level plasma physics course (including 'Introduction to Plasma Physics' by D.R. Nicholson) I can safely say that Chen's is the best for the introductory or self-study student. I have also recommended it to those intent on working plasma problems on their own, such as questioners who've frequented the astrophysics forum on allexperts.com.

As I've told several of them, Chen's book essentially "leads you by the hand"- going through particle motions, gyro-frequencies, adiabatic invariants etc., to magnetic mirror systems (including loss cone angles and Fermi accelerations applied to them) to plasma instabilities and MHD, whereas many others (even 'Plasma Physics' by Krall and Trivelpiece) tend to assume too much.

If there is one small complaint it's that Chen, certainly in his earlier editions, tends to use the cgs system as opposed to the S.I.(For example, using ergs instead of joules, and cm/s instead of m/s etc.). But this is easily remedied if the student simply downloads the 'Plasma Formulary' (google!) which contains a Table for conversions between the systems. It is certainly not enough of a problem to warrant notching the rating down!

Chen's best section (in Chapter Seven) is probably that which shows how MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) actually arises from a progressive degradation in physical detail, starting from two-fluid theory, to one fluid theory to MHD.

Chen's bottom line overview is that one proceeds by taking moments of the Boltzmann equation.

E.g. given the Boltmann eqn. is: @f/ @t + v*grad f + F/m*@f/@t = (@f/@t)_C

where @ denotes partial derivative, and (@f/@t)_C is the time rate of change in f due to collisions.

The first moment, which yields a 'two-fluid' (e.g. electron-ion) medium is obtained by integrating the above eqn. with F = q/m (E + v X B). If one then assumes a sufficiently hot plasma so it's collisionless, the term on the RHS, (@f/@t)_C -> 0.

This is the **Vlasov** equation:

@f/@t + v*grad f + q/m (E + v X B)*@f/@t = 0

The 2nd moment is obtained by multiplying the original eqn. (Boltzmann) by m v then integrating it over dv.

Anyway, the progression by using this procedure is that one gets in succession:

Two -fluid theory (e.g. ions and electrons treated as a separate fluids)
!
!
V

One fluid theory (introducing low frequency, long wave length and quasi -neutral approximations, e.g. n_e ~ n_i
!
!
V

MHD Theory (proceeds from 1-fluid theory with further assumptions, simplifications)

In this development, one can see that the two-fluid paradigm embodies much more detail and accuracy than the cruder 1-fluid and MHD approaches, though it is or can be more difficult to apply. Basically given an "ion fluid" and an "electron fluid" there are two essential equations which apply to describe the properties, one for continuity, the other for force.

I must also give prime kudos to Chen for his excellent treatment of Landau damping, and the meaning of Landau damping in the context of plasma oscillations, in the same chapter. Hands down, this is one of the best I've seen including his presentation of obtaining the Landau contour.

In short, this text gets five stars because it's the best I've seen for the beginning plasma physics student. The writing is clear, the examples and illustrations illuiminating (never redundant, or obscure) and the example problems are well-chosen.

In addition, all the problems at the end of each chapter are easily doable if one has properly followed the arguments and examples in the chapters.

Since the many years had passed from the 2nd ed, I expected many improvements from it with corrected errors.
but actually this book has obtained a lot of typos (Eqn (2.35),(2.36)at P31 and Eqn (3.35) at the P59 is one of the worst I have to mention),
and its figures were mostly the copy of 2nd ed, with reduced resolution (We can see the pixel and blurs to hide them frequently. Was the figures were scanned from 2nd ed and just resized?)
Trying to contain additional chapters seemed to be a good try, but why not tried to maintain & improve the reliability of the existing chapters? Now I could not read the textbook safely!

Having only gone through Chapter 4, I find that the general explanations and derivations to be easy to follow. However I don't feel like the book is self contained, many times I have to consult other books to explain concepts that are not fully fleshed out in this book. Lastly, a minor nuisance is when the other uses certain terms that are quite ambiguous such as "schematic plot" which required to me speak to several people before I was convinced he just meant sketch.

A very accessible text on a somewhat esoteric, but important branch of physics. Concepts are explained clearly and mathematical derivations are easy to follow. Many exercise problems scattered throughout the text help keep you on top of the material. Solutions to selected problems in the back help you check yourself before you wreck yourself. If only a full solutions manual were available!

I took an intro to plasma physics class using this book at the undergraduate level - and this book was perfect. It has a good blend of experimental evidence, theory, and math. The derivations are really good, you can follow along in the margins. The pictures are clear and beautiful, the page layout easy on the eyes. This is not a graduate text, but aimed at the advanced undergrad level. You should already know calculus, complex analysis, EM, and linear algebra before learning this material.

This is one of the best introductory texts for plasma physics that I have found. As far as I know, volume 2 was never written but volume 1 does cover the important basics of plasma physics.

However, you should take it with a grain of salt. This is a reprint of the 1980's publication; while most of the information is still quite relevant, some of it is outdated, and quite often the absolute fundamental perspectives on things are ignored in favor of over-simplified assumptions (which was fine under the older school of plasma physics, but simply causes problems today where many plasmas are exceptions to the older school of thought, requiring a much more 'fundamentalist' approach).

Through 2 chapters so far. A great source of knowledge.

My one criticism is that the context is a bit mathematically heavy. Would have been nice to establish a more conceptual​ view at the begging.