Electrodynamics Of Particles And Plasmas PDF

Preface

The classical electrodynamics of point charges has a long history. Only comparatively recently, though, has an appreciation of its importance in a broad range of physical phenomena given theorists encouragement to explore all its consequences by removing the criticism that such exercises are purely academic. In this sense there has arisen a new discipline, now usually called plasma physics. Its literature is extensive; and since in the last decade it has given rise to numerous books and also invaded the traditional territory of texts on general electromagnetic theory, it may be helpful to indicate briefly the aim, scope, and level of the present book.

Its aim is to present an account that would give the reader a firm theoretical grounding in the subject. The contents are, in summary, the classical theory of radiation applied to point charges, the dynamics of individual point charges, and the description of plasmas. The latter are treated by proceeding first from the simplifying approximations of magneto-ionic theory, and subsequently from the Boltzmann-Vlasov equations, leaving to the final chapter an introduction to fundamental kinetic theory.

The description throughout relies essentially on mathematical deduction from basic equations, but it is hoped that the indications of orders of magnitude and applications are sufficient to remind the reader that the theories are relevant to the real world and are indeed being widely applied. Moreover, the mathematics itself does not go beyond standard ideas in Fourier analysis, tensors and complex integration; and the steps in each deduction are for the most part given explicitly.

The level at which we have aimed can be most nearly described by saying that we hope the book will be suitable for beginning graduate students. There is, however, some unevenness in the difficulty of the work, inherent in the nature of the subject. .It is hoped that the book may also be found to be a useful reference source for other categories of readers; and although there is for the most part no serious claim to originality, it is hoped that more senior research workers may find some of our material of interest.

In keeping with the aim of the book, no attempt has been made to compile comprehensive lists of references. Those given at the end of each chapter refer on the one hand to accounts in other books, and on the other to comparatively recent papers that are either particularly relevant to the matters discussed or else illustrative of further work; references occur in the body of the text only where it seems natural in the interests of clarity. Problems are given at the end of each chapter; they include both exercises on the specific material of the chapter, and example on other aspects of the theory.

The delivery in recent years of several courses of lectures by each of us, and the reception accorded to those courses by the classes of students concerned, have considerably influenced our selection of material and the choice of presentation, and also led us to construct some of the problems. Parts of the manuscript have been read and commented on by several people to whom our thanks are tendered; in particular Mr. S.R. Watson has read the whole of the manuscript at least once and some of it several times, and we are grateful to him for his helpful suggestions.

Author: Phillip C Clemmow