PHYS562 PLASMA PHYSICS
| Course Code: | 2300562 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Physics |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | |
| Offered Semester: | Once in several years. |
Course Objectives
Historical review of plasma physics. Characteristic plasma parameters. Debye shielding. Quasy-neutrality. Plasma and cyclotron frequencies. Collisional processes in plasma. Collisional frequency. Magnetohydrodynamics: basic equations. Instability of plasma systems. Plasma waves. Plasma diagnostics: temperature and density measurements. Types of plasma and use: artificialy produced plasmas, terrestrial plasmas, plasmas in universe.
Course Content
The basic equations and conservation laws; first order orbit theory; adiabatic invariants; ideal MHD model; plasma equilibrium and stability; energy principle; plasma waves; waves-particle interaction; wave-wave interaction; weak turbulence theory.
Course Learning Outcomes
After completing the plasma physics course the students should be able to
- define plasma state, give examples of different kinds of plasma and explain the parameters characterizing them
- analyze the motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields
- explain the concept of quasineutrality and describe plasma interaction with surfaces
- formulate kinetic and fluid descriptions of plasma, and understand the applicability of the appropriate approximations (ideal MHD, single fluid description, many fluid model).
- discuss plasma resistivity and diffusion in plasma based on the charged particle motion
- linearize equations describing plasma and derive differential equations for various types of waves in plasma and their dispersion relation
- explain the properties of the most important wave modes in plasma: dispersion relation, polarization and motion of the charged particles
- explain the theory of electromagnetic wave propagation in plasma
- explain the concept of plasma instability, and analyze the instabilities based on the dispersion relation
- make estimates of various parameters in plasmas
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | They are competent in the fundamentals of Physics and in the subfield of their thesis work. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | They have necessary skills (literature search, experiment design, project design, etc.) for doing research with guidance of a more experienced researcher. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | They can communicate research results in a proper format (journal article, conference presentation, project report etc.) | ✔ | |||
| 4 | They can learn necessary skills and techniques (theoretical, experimental, computational etc.) on their own. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | They have necessary skills to work as team member in a research group. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution