Physics of Space Plasmas: An Introduction, Second Edition FROM THE PUBLISHER
Physics of Space Plasmas was one of the first textbooks published in the area of space plasma physics and included up-to-date observations from space available at that time. It has been used in the United States and abroad by many universities as a text in introductory space plasma physics courses. A considerable number of new space plasma observations have been made since publication of the first edition. These more recent observations have revealed new and exciting information about space plasma and will enhance the quality of the overarching discussion and analyses of space plasma physics. Citing results from several NASA and ESA space missions, the completely revised Second Edition now expands the interpretation using kinetic physics to explain the kinetic features in the plasma data. Parks also includes a clear and simple discussion of how electromagnetic fields behave in rotating frames. This revision retains the thoughtful examples and problems of the First Edition and includes new ones to complement the new material and changes in the Second Edition.
SYNOPSIS
Parks (University of California, Berkeley) uses the theory of classical electrodynamics to interpret observations made during the discovery era of space plasmas, defining the equations of single particle motion, magnetohydrodynamics, and kinetic physics. The second edition of the textbook adds sections on rotating frames of reference, the electric field of rotating dipoles, and tearing mode instability. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Nature
A timely and welcome addition to the literature... the best
textbook currently available.
Physics Today
Emphasizes theoretical expositions of virtually all of the
physical processes that occur in space plasmas.
ACCREDITATION
George K. Parks is a research physicist at Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include the physics of auroras, solar flares, collissionless shocks, solar wind, particle acceleration mechanisms, and lightning.
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