Plasma Physics

The book presents fundamentals of plasma physics with rich references and computational techniques in a concise manner. It particularly focuses on introductions to numerical simulation methods in plasma physics, in addition to those to physics and mathematics in plasma physics. It also presents the fundamentals of numerical methods, which solve mathematical models of plasmas, together with examples of numerical results. A discretization method, the so-called finite difference method, is introduced for particle-in-cell methods and fluid codes, which have been widely employed in plasma physics studies. In addition to the introduction to numerical solutions, it also covers numerical stability. The instabilities and numerical errors significantly influence the results, and for correct results, great efforts are required to avoid such numerical artifacts. The book also carefully discusses the numerical errors, numerical stability, and uncertainty in numerical computations.

This book deals with basic concepts in plasma physics, non-equilibrium plasma modeling, space plasma applications, and plasma diagnostics. It also provides an overview of the linear and nonlinear aspects of plasma physics.

Dynamics of astrophysical systems is often described by plasma physics, yet understanding the nature of plasma turbulence remains as a challenge in physics in both theories and experiments. This book is an up-to-date summary and review of recent results in research on waves and turbulence in near-Earth space plasma turbulence, obtained by Cluster, the multi-spacecraft mission. Spatial and temporal structures of solar wind turbulence as well as its interaction with the bow shock ahead of the Earth are presented using Cluster data. The book presents (1) historical developments, (2) theoretical background of plasma physics, turbulence theories, and the plasma physical picture of the solar system, (3) analysis methods for multi-spacecraft data, (4) results of Cluster data analysis, and (5) impacts on astrophysics and Earth sciences.