Plasma Astrophysics, Part I

Fully updated and revised, this second edition of the classic text on plasma astrophysics covers all the fundamentals and includes new sections on subjects such as plasma heating by reverse current, the moment equations, and the Grad-Shafranov equation.

This two-part book is devoted to classic fundamentals and current practices and perspectives of modern plasma astrophysics. This first part uniquely covers all the basic principles and practical tools required for understanding and work in plasma astrophysics. More than 25% of the text is updated from the first edition, including new figures, equations and entire sections on topics such as magnetic reconnection and the Grad-Shafranov equation.

The book is aimed at professional researchers in astrophysics, but it will also be useful to graduate students in space sciences, geophysics, applied physics and mathematics, especially those seeking a unified view of plasma physics and fluid mechanics.