Product Description

This complete introduction to plasma physics and controlled fusion by one of the pioneering scientists in this expanding field offers both a simple and intuitive discussion of the basic concepts of this subject and an insight into the challenging problems of current research. In a wholly lucid manner, the work covers single-particle motions, fluid equations for plasmas, wave motions, diffusion and resistivity, Landau damping, plasma instabilities and nonlinear problems. For students, this outstanding text offers a painless introduction to this important field; for teachers, a large collection of problems; and for researchers, a concise review of the fundamentals as well as original treatments of a number of topics never before explained so clearly. This revised edition contains new material on kinetic effects, including Bernstein waves and the plasma dispersion function, and on nonlinear wave equations and solutions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142386 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 421 pages

About the Author
Prof. Chen is a plasma physicist with a career extending over 48 years and encompassing both experiment and theory. He has devoted about a decade each to the subfields of magnetic fusion, laser fusion, plasma diagnostics, basic plasma physics, and low-temperature plasma physics. Most plasma students are familiar with his textbook Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. His current interest is in plasma processing of semiconductor circuits, especially the radiofrequency sources used to make computer chips, and in the physical processes that permit etching millions of transistors on a single chip. To learn more about this, please visit the site for UCLA's Low Temperature Plasma Technology Laboratory (LTPTL): http://www.ee.ucla.edu/~ltptl/. Though formally retired from teaching, Prof. Chen still maintains an active research group with graduate students and postdocs.

Customer Reviews

It Just Keeps Coming in Handy
I first bought this text for an undergraduate course in plasmas, and I liked it then -- Chen's first few chapters will get you through the basics without any undue suffering (you'll hurt because the subject can be difficult, not because the text is unclear.) After spending a few months on my shelf, it reappeared for some research I was doing that required me to get comfortable with a few different types of plasma waves. Now Chen has come back into my life -- I'm taking a graduate course in kinetic theory of plasmas, and I find myself opening up this book on a daily basis to figure something out. This textbook has served me well, and if you're doing work (coursework or research) in the plasmas field, it will likely serve you well, too. The first four or five chapters are written so that a senior-level physics undergrad can understand them, so you get a nice conceptual grasp of the subject (as well as good reference material on more advanced topics.)

One point: I wouldn't recommend buying this as a "teach yourself plasma physics on a desert island" kind of book. If you can find someone who knows the subject, though, Chen will help you to learn a lot after they've explained a few basic points.

Basic subjects covered are:

Orbit theory (single particle motion, adiabatic invariants)
Fluid approximation
Plasma waves (O, X, R, L, acoustic, and many others)
Diffusion and resistivity
Equilibrium/stability issues
Kinetic theory
Assorted non-linear effects

Awsome Book
This is a great book for introductory level plasma physics for undergraduates. Deals with everything from particle drifts to kinetic effects in an easy to understand physical approach. There is also a nice review of waves in plasmas.

Great intro to plasma physics
This is a great introduction to plasma physics. I have used this book for both undergraduate and graduate work and it lends itself well to either. Starts out basic enough for 3rd and 4th year undergrads to work with and also has enough detailed information for more advanced graduate studies. I have to recommend this as the best introduction to this field out there.