Elements of Theoretical Plasma Physics

This invaluable textbook is written for advanced undergraduates and graduates focusing on plasma physics, with additional emphasis on the theoretical basis for various descriptions of plasma media and the mathematical methods for available solutions of plasma equations.

In this sequel to an earlier book by the author Fundamentals of Theoretical Plasma Physics, the contents comprise Alfven surface waves, entropy associated with the Boltzmann equation,

variational principles of hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic equations, surface waves in cylindrical plasma, the relativistic kinetic equation and surface waves of fluid plasma, while also retaining previous material on the Liouville, Boltzmann, and Vlasov equations, as well as dispersive wave theory, plasma electrodynamics, nonlinear wave theory, boundary value problems (for surface wave), parametric instability, and instability criteria (convective and absolute).

Readers will first get familiar with the widely used characteristic method for various wave problems, followed by many examples that are smoothly solved to facilitate further advancement. Plasma equations are developed from the variational principle to address theoretical considerations, and cylindrical geometry in relativistic dynamics helps derive the surface wave dispersion relation. Initial and boundary value problems of Vlasov and fluid equations are thoroughly reviewed. The Fourier transform method applied in semi-infinite space is a new approach found in this book.