Space Physics : An Introduction to Plasmas and Particles in the Heliosphere and Magnetospheres - Hardcover

KALLENRODE M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3540412492 ISBN 13: 9783540412496

Publisher: SPRINGER, 2001

Synopsis

The phenomena of space physics are complex and their understanding often requires the integration of different concepts. To help the beginner, this book uses a new methodological approach. The first chapters introduce simple concepts of plasma physics and describe where these can be applied in space physics. Subsequent chapters are devoted to more complex observations, interpreted in terms of the concepts introduced earlier. New, more difficult, concepts are introduced as they are required. Thus observations and physical concepts are interwoven to give basic explanations of phenomena and also show the limitations in these explanations and identify some fundamental questions. This second edition has been updated and extended. Improvements include: the use of SI units; addition of recent results from SOHO and Ulysses; improved treatment of the magnetosphere as a dynamic phenomenon; text restructured to provide a closer coupling between basic physical concepts and observed complex phenomena.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Space is a large natural plasma laboratory offering a wealth of phenomena which range from the simple to the highly complex and non-linear. This book begins with an introduction to basic principles such as single-particle motion, magnetohydrodynamics and plasma waves. It incorporates these concepts into an analysis of complex phenomena including the sun and solar activity, shocks, interplanetary space and magnetospheres, and finally the interaction between these entities in solar-terrestrial relationships. In all these subfields of space research, special attention is paid to energetic particles. The book concludes with a brief chapter on instrumentation. In this third edition, numerous examples have been added to illustrate the basic concepts and aid the reader in applying such concepts to real world physics. In addition, recent observations (ACE, TRACE, Wind) have been included. The chapter on solar-terrestrial relationships has been expanded to introduce the current research topic of Space Weather.

Review

From the reviews of the third edition:

"It’s delighting to read such a book! Not only clear and precise, it covers a huge amount of information on a vast and difficult domain. ... An appendix with symbols, useful relations, numbers and 52 Internet resources is followed by a list of 573 references. ... I warmly recommend this book for students, young researchers or specialists as like the author said, focus is on concepts rather than on detailed mathematical analysis. Everyone could take benefits of the reading." (Jean-Claude Jodogne, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)

Edition details

• Publisher: SPRINGER
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3540412492
• ISBN 13: 9783540412496
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 380