这个课程只想被当成初级的等离子体物理课程，但包含了进一步学习所需要的重要观念。古典力学、包含马克斯威方程式的电磁学理论，熟悉数学的偏微分方程式以及复数分析的坚实背景知识是先决条件。

这课程所介绍的等离子体现象和以下有关：控制下热核融合反应的能量产生、天文物理学、库伦碰撞、传输过程、带电粒子在磁场中的运动情形、等离子体局限方法、磁流体动力学模型、简单的平衡和稳定性分析。它也涵盖双流体的流体动力学的等离子体模型、磁场内的波传播现象、动力理论、Vlasov等离子体模型、等离子体波、蓝道阻尼、离子声波和串流不稳定性。一个修饰后符合想要选课学生背景知识和兴趣的课程描述，将会在课堂开始以及之前公开分发。

In this course, students will learn about plasmas, the fourth state of matter. The plasma state dominates the visible universe, and is of increasing economic importance. Plasmas behave in lots of interesting and sometimes unexpected ways.

The course is intended only as a first plasma physics course, but includes critical concepts needed for a foundation for further study. A solid undergraduate background in classical physics, electromagnetic theory including Maxwell's equations, and mathematical familiarity with partial differential equations and complex analysis are prerequisites.

The course introduces plasma phenomena relevant to energy generation by controlled thermonuclear fusion and to astrophysics, coulomb collisions and transport processes, motion of charged particles in magnetic fields, plasma confinement schemes, MHD models, simple equilibrium and stability analysis. It also covers two-fluid hydrodynamic plasma models, wave propagation in a magnetic field, kinetic theory, Vlasov plasma model, electron plasma waves and Landau damping, ion-acoustic waves, and streaming instabilities. A subject description tailored to fit the background and interests of the attending students is distributed shortly before and at the beginning of the subject.

技术需求

在本课程网站上找到的.mat文件，需要MATLAB® software加以检视及执行。
MATLAB® software is required to view and run the .mat files found on this course site.