Plasma Physics
Overall Course Objectives
The objective is to give the students an understanding of what a plasma is, how it behaves, which scientific and industrial contexts plasmas appear in. The course will give the student insight into how the dynamics in plasma is modeled mathematically and numerically, and on the basis of simplified models give the student the ability to model fundamental plasma phenomena. Acquired knowledge from this course provides a foundation for advanced studies of fusion plasmas, astrophysical plasmas and process plasmas that are applied in a broad range of industrial processes.
See course description in Danish
Learning Objectives
- Describe the general characteristics of a plasma, its application and occurrence
- Compute charged particle trajectories in electric and magnetic fields
- Describe basic elements of tokamaks and stellarators
- Compute the effects of collisions in plasmas
- Deduce the continuum equations of motion for plasmas
- Deduce the magnetohydrodynamic equations of motion for plasmas
- Deduce the kinetic equations of motion for plasmas
- Describe fundamental wave phenomena in plasmas
- Account for the exchange of energy between waves and particles
- Assess which models should be used in describing a given plasma phenomenon
- Describe plasma equilibrium states and associated electric and magnetic fields
- Calculate the stability of plasmas
Course Content
Fundamental equations of motion for populations of charged particles in electromagnetic fields including self-generated fields. Magnetohydrodynamic, continuum and kinetic descriptions. Plasma equilibrium states and criteria for stability. Collisions. Wave phenomena in plasma. Resonance and total reflection. Elementary dielectric effects in thermal plasmas. Plasma in space and laboratory, fusion plasma.
Recommended prerequisites
10033/10034/10036, or equivalent courses.
Teaching Method
Lectures and exercises