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Course descriptions:

Introduction to plasma physics (5 ECTS cr.)

Period: I
Length: 26 h lectures and 12 h exercises.
Lectures: Mon 12-14 and Thu 12-14 room D114, First lecture 8.9.2011
Exercises: Fri 12-14 room D106, First exercise 16.9.2011
Prerequisites: Bachelor-level basic physics including electrodynamics.
Contents: The course is an introduction to basic concepts and methods of plasma physics. It provides basics for further studies on laboratory, fusion, space and astrophysical plasma phenomena. After a brief introduction and a short review of electrodynamics needed in plasma physics, the following topics are discussed: motion of charged particles in electromagnetic field, collisions and plasma conductivity, kinetic plasma description, macroscopic plasma quantities and equations, magnetohydrodynamics, Alfven waves, cold plasma waves, warm plasma, plasma physics and fusion research.
Exam: TBD
Literature:
For finnish speaking students:
  • Hannu Koskinen: Johdatus plasmafysiikkaan ja sen avaruussovellutuksiin, Limes ry., 2001.
For english speaking students: Supplementary reading:
  • Baumjohann, W., Treumann, R., Basic Space Plasma Physics, Imperial College Press, 1996.
  • Boyd, T. J. M., and Sanderson, J. J., The Physics of Plasmas, Cambridge University Press, 2003.
  • Goldston, R. J., and Rutherford, P. H., Introduction to Plasma Physics, IOP Physics Publishing Ltd., 1995.
  • Kivelson, M. G., and Russell (eds.), C. T., Introduction to Space Physics, Cambridge University Press, 1995.
  • Koskinen, H. E. J., Physics of Space Storms, Springer/PRAXIS, 2011.
  • Krall, N. A., and Trivelpiece, A. W. , Principles of Plasma Physics, San Francisco Press, 1986 (a reproduction of the original text published by McGraw-Hill, 1973).
  • Kulsrud, R. M., Plasma Physics for Astrophysics, Princeton University Press, 2005.
  • Nicolson, D. R., Introduction to Plasma Theory, John Wiley & Sons, 1983.
  • Parks, G. K., Physics of Space Plasmas. An Introduction, Westview Press, 2004.
  • Sturrock, P. A. Plasma Physics, An Introduction to the Theory of Astrophysical, Geophysical & Laboratory Plasmas, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
  • Treumann, R., and Baumjohann, W. Advanced Space Plasma Physics, Imperial College Press, 1997.


Space applications of plasma physics (5 ECTS cr.)

Period: II
Length: 28 h lectures and 12 h exercises.
Lectures: Mon 12-14 and Thu 12-14 room D114, First lecture 31.10.2011
Exercises: Fri 12-14 room D106, First exercise 16.9.2011
Prerequisites: Bachelor level basic physics and introduction to plasma physics.
Contents: The course contains an introduction to most important topics in space plasma physics: the Sun, solar wind, formation of the magnetosphere, ionosphere, magnetospheric dynamics, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, auroras, magnetospheres of other planets, and astrophysical plasmas.
Exam: Friday, December 16, 2011 at 9.00-13.00 Physicum, room D104
Literature: For finnish speaking students:
  • Hannu Koskinen: Johdatus plasmafysiikkaan ja sen avaruussovellutuksiin, Limes ry., 2001.
Supplementary reading:
  • Baumjohann, W., Treumann, R., Basic Space Plasma Physics, Imperial College Press, 1996.
  • Kivelson ja Russell (eds.): Introduction to Space Physics (Cambridge University Press).
  • Koskinen, H. E. J., Physics of Space Storms, Springer/PRAXIS, 2011.
  • Parks: Physics of Space Plasmas. An Introduction (Addison-Wesley).
  • Other material suggested in the lectures.


Exercises (Autumn 2011)

The exercise session is on Friday 12-14 in lecture room D106.
Exercise assistants are
Alexandr Afanasiev (Alexandr.Afanasiev@helsinki.fi) for Introduction to Plasma Physics
Kristaina Snekvik (Kristian.Snekvik@fmi.fi) for Space Applications of Plasma Physics

Solved exercises are to be returned by Wednesday until 12 o'clock, to the mail box in the 2nd floor in Physicum.



Exercises will be given here in .pdf-format.

Introduction to Plasma Physics

  1. Exercise 1
  2. Exercise 2
  3. Exercise 3
  4. Exercise 4
  5. Exercise 5
  6. Exercise 6
Note that the last exercise session will be held on Thursday, October 20, 14-16 in D106

Space applications

First session will be held on Friday, November 11.
  1. Exercise 1
  2. Exercise 2
  3. Exercise 3
  4. Exercise 4
  5. Exercise 5
  6. Figures to exercise 5



Lectures (Autumn 2011)

Introduction to plasma physics


Lectures will follow the text-book: H. Koskinen, Johdatus plasmafysiikkaan ja sen avaruussovellutuksiin, Limes ry., 2001.

English lecture notes will be found here

  1. Start
  2. Introduction
  3. Electrodynamics
  4. Particle motion
  5. Collisions and conductivity
  6. Kinetic description
  7. Macroscopic description
  8. Magnetohydrodynamics
  9. MHD waves
  10. Cold plasma waves
  11. Warm plasma
  12. Fusion
  13. Some review material

Space applications

The lecture notes will be distributed here (for the time being these are the Autumn 2011 lecture notes).

List of sections from Kivelson and Russell: Intoroduction to Space Physics that cover (partly) the topics of the lectures: pdf

NOTE! updated file: Sun and Solar wind
  1. Sun
  2. Sun observing
  3. Solar wind
  4. Shock waves
  5. Earth's magnetosphere
  6. Reconnection
  7. Ionosphere
  8. Planets
  9. Magnetospheric dynamics
  10. Space weather


Links

Here are links to some plasma and space physics sites.

Space Physics at Helsinki University

The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere

Solar observatories: Hinode, RHESSI, SOHO, STEREO, STEREO daily pictures, TRACE, Solar Probe, Daily solar images

Spacecraft studying the solar wind: ACE, Ulysses

Missions to Mercury: Mariner 10, Messenger, BepiColombo

Missions to Jupiter: Pioneer 10 & 11, Voyager 1 & 2, Ulysses, Cassini-Huygens