這個課程只想被當成初級的電漿物理課程，但包含了進一步學習所需要的重要觀念。古典力學、包含馬克斯威方程式的電磁學理論，熟悉數學的偏微分方程式以及複數分析的堅實背景知識是先決條件。

這課程所介紹的電漿現象和以下有關：控制下熱核融合反應的能量產生、天文物理學、庫倫碰撞、傳輸過程、帶電粒子在磁場中的運動情形、電漿侷限方法、磁流體動力學模型、簡單的平衡和穩定性分析。它也涵蓋雙流體的流體動力學的電漿模型、磁場內的波傳播現象、動力理論、Vlasov電漿模型、電漿波、藍道阻尼、離子聲波和串流不穩定性。一個修飾後符合想要選課學生背景知識和興趣的課程描述，將會在課堂開始以及之前公開分發。

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.

技術需求

在本課程網站上找到的.mat檔案，需要MATLAB® software加以檢視及執行。
MATLAB® software is required to view and run the .mat files found on this course site.