Part II: Kinetic Theory
Kinetic theory describes plasma as a collection of particles with a distribution function in phase space. This is essential for understanding collisionless phenomena like Landau damping.
Part Overview
The kinetic description treats plasma as a distribution function f(r, v, t) in 6D phase space. This enables understanding of wave-particle interactions, Landau damping, and instabilities that cannot be captured by fluid models.
Key Concepts
- • Vlasov equation for collisionless plasmas
- • Landau damping of plasma waves
- • Two-stream and bump-on-tail instabilities
- • Fokker-Planck equation for collisions
- • Quasilinear theory and wave-particle interactions
- • Particle trapping in plasma waves
6 chapters | Foundation of collisionless plasma theory
Chapters
Chapter 1: Vlasov Equation
Collisionless Boltzmann equation, distribution function, Vlasov-Maxwell system, and Jeans theorem.
Chapter 2: Landau Damping
Collisionless damping, plasma dispersion function, physical mechanism, and Landau's derivation.
Chapter 3: Two-Stream Instability
Beam-plasma systems, reactive instabilities, growth rates, and applications to space plasmas.
Chapter 4: Fokker-Planck Equation
Collision operators, diffusion and friction coefficients, Rosenbluth potentials, and thermalization.
Chapter 5: Quasilinear Theory
Weak turbulence theory, resonant wave-particle interactions, plateau formation, and relaxation.
Chapter 6: Particle Trapping
Nonlinear effects, bounce motion in wave potential, BGK modes, and phase space structures.