Homework for PHYS:4731 Plasma Physics I

Notes:

GB = D. A. Gurnett & A. Bhattacharjee (2017), Introduction to Plasma Physics with Space and Laboratory Applications
BS = T. J. M. Boyd & J. J. Sanderson (2003), The Physics of Plasmas

Week 1

Due Friday, August 30, 2024.

• Skim through the NRL Plasma Formulary to familiarize yourself with its contents.
• Required: Read GB Chapter 1-2 (p.1-18)
• Read "Plasmas" by Harold Grad (1969), Physics Today 22: 34-44.

Week 2

Due Friday, September 6, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 3, Sec. 3.1-3.2 (p.23-30)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 2, Sec. 2.1-2.3 (p.12-19)

• Homework #1

Week 3

Due Friday, September 13, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 3, Sec. 3.3-3.4 (p.30-44)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 2, Sec. 2.4-2.7 (p.19-28)
• Homework #2

Week 4

Due Friday, September 20, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 3, Sec. 3.5 (p.44-46)
• Required: Read GB Chapter 3, Sec. 3.8 (p.52-64)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 2, Sec. 2.1-2.3 (p.12-19)
• Required: Read Sections 16.0 and 16.1 from Numerical Recipes.
• Required: Read Introduction to Matlab by Kristian Sandberg.
• Homework #3

Week 5

Due Friday, September 27, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 3, Sec. 3.6–3.7 (p.46–51)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 2, Sec. 2.12–2.15 (p.37–43)
• Homework #4

Week 6

Due Friday, October 4, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 5, Sec. 5.1–5.3 (p.148–157)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 3, Sec. 3.1–3.2 (p.48–58)
• Homework #5

Week 7

Study for Midterm Exam I, to be given on Friday, October 11, 2024.

• Review Lectures #1-11
• Review HW #1-5

Week 8

Due Friday, October 18, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 5, Sec. 5.4 (p.157-167)

Week 9

Due Friday, October 25, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 6, Sec. 6.1 (p.186-194)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 3, Sec. 3.3-3.4 (p.58-70)

Week 10

Due Friday, November 1, 2024.

• Required: Read GB Chapter 6, Sec. 6.2-6.4 (p.194-206)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 4, Sec. 4.1-4.2 (p.77-81)
• Homework #6

Week 11

Due Friday, November 8, 2024.

• Required: Read GB, Chapter 6, Sec 6.5–6.6 (p.206–217)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 4, Sec. 4.8 (p.130-132)
• Homework #7

Week 12

Due Friday, November 15, 2024.

• Required: Read GB, Chapter 7, Sec 7.1–7.2 (p.221–239)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 4, Sec. 4.3–4.4 (p.82–107)
• Homework #8

Week 13

Study for Midterm Exam II, to be given on Friday, November 22, 2024.

• Review Lectures #11-21
• Review HW #6-8

Week 14

Due Friday, December 6, 2024.

• Required: Read GB, Chapter 4, Sec. 4.1–4.3 (p.87–105)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 6, Sec. 6.1–6.3.1 (p.197–210)
• Homework #9

Week 15

Due Friday, December 13, 2024.

• Required: Read GB, Chapter 5, Sec. 5.5 (p.167–173)
• Optional: Read BS Chapter 1, Sec. 1.1–1.2 (p.1–6)
• Homework #10

Study for the Comprehensive Final Exam, with the date to be announced by the Registrar by the fifth week of classes.