Time Schedule:
Uri Shumlak
A A 558
Seattle Campus
Equilibrium, stability, and confinement. Classical transport, collisionless and resistive skin depths. Ideal MHD equations formally derived and properties of plasmas in the ideal limit are studied. Straight and toroidal equilibrium. Linear stability analysis with examples. Taylor minimum energy principle. Prerequisite: either A A 405, A A 556, A A 557, ESS 576, or GPHYS 537. Offered: even years; Sp.
Class description
1. Students will understand the derivation of plasma models [kinetic, two-fluid, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)]. 2. Students will know the limiting approximations, the physical significance, and the regions of validity for each model. 3. Students will become sufficiently familiar with the vector & tensor mathematics to apply the methods to reduce or extend the plasma models. 4. Students will be able to apply the two-fluid plasma model to derive plasma wave dispersion relations. 5. Students will be able to apply the MHD plasma model to compute magnetically confined equilibria in 1-D and 2-D and to classify the various equilibria. 6. Students will be able to apply the MHD plasma model to determine stability of magnetically confined equilibria and understand the driving source of instabilities.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Homework 30% Midterm Exam 30% Final Exam 40%
