Course Overview

This course introduces students to:

-  Definition of plasma, typical spatial-time scale parameters,
plasma classification, occurrence of plasmas in nature, applications
of plasma physics; - Dynamics of single-charge particles for various
configurations of electric and magnetic fields (stationary or
transient, (in)homogeneous, …); - bi-fluid description of plasmas
at equilibrium; - waves in plasmas: main modes in magnetized and
non-magnetized plasmas.       

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

- personal work on proposed problems (distributed at mid-term, 4 weeks
delay; 30% weight),  - written final exam (1h30, 70% weight, one to
two weeks after the final tutorial).

> In case of failure: second final exam (1h30 written or 0h30 oral,
according to the number of candidates)

Course schedule

Course content includes:
- Definition of plasma, typical spatial-time scale parameters,
plasma classification, the occurrence of plasmas in nature,
applications of plasma physics (4h lecture); - Velocity distribution
function and mean quantities (mean velocity, density, temperature) (1h
lecture); - Single-particle drifts in uniform E and B fields (2h
lecture); - Drifts in non-uniform B-field (1h lecture); - Cyclotron
effect (1h tutorial); - Ponderomotive effect (1h tutorial); - Pinch
and magnetic mirror, loss cone (2h tutorial); - Bi-fluid plasma
description (1h lecture); - Electromagnetic waves in plasmas:
critical density for wave propagation, skin depth, collisional damping
(2h lecture); - Electron-plasma oscillations and waves (2h lecture);
- Ion-acoustic waves (2h tutorial); - Conductivity of magnetized
plasmas (2h lecture); - Waves in magnetized plasmas (3h lecture); -
Whistler mode and Alfven waves in magnetized plasmas (2h tutorial); -
Assist students on their writing assessment (4h tutorial).

Course type

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Other information

The course has its dedicated Moodle page, which gives access to
materials and
illustrations: https://moodle1.u-bordeaux.fr/course/view.php?id=4740

Duration: 8 weeks

Language of instruction: English
Mode of delivery: Face-to-face teaching

Site for Inquiry