Synopses & Reviews
Physics of Solar System Plasmas provides a comprehensive introduction to the plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics that are needed to study the solar wind and magnetosphere. The text includes a broad introduction to plasma physics, including important discussions of kinetic theory, single particle motion, magnetohydrodynamics, geomagnetically trapped energetic particles and the physics of magnetic reconnection. This leads into a thorough description of the Sun and the solar wind, and, finally, the author addresses magnetospheric physics. Among the topics covered here are magnetospheric morphology, bow shocks, magnetospheric convection and electrical currents, substorms, ionospheric physics, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, auroral physics and the interaction of the solar wind with the planets. Problem sets at the end of each chapter make this a useful text for advanced undergraduate students in astrophysics, geophysics, or atmospheric sciences. Graduate students and researchers will also find it a valuable source of information.
Review
"...a very useful addition to the now growing number of space physics texts. Each chapter ends with a good number of problems...designed to aid the physical understandings of the workings of the solar wind and magnetosphere." W. Jeffrey Hughes, EOS"Cravens's book is a welcome addition to the relatively limited number of space physics works." ...Cravens's book,...will serve as an excellent text for the upper-division undergraduate or graduate student who plans to pursue study in space physics." Choice"...I recommend the book to students physics...." Jan Bl^D?ecki, Pure Applied Geophysics"This is a well-written introduction to the physics of the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres. Some diverse problems are provided at the end of each chapter. ...this is a good textbook for advanced undergraduate students. Graduate students and researchers will enjoy it as a nice introduction to these fascinating fields." Maarten van Aalst, Space Science Review
Synopsis
A comprehensive introduction to the ionised gases of the solar-terrestrial environment.
Table of Contents
1. Space physics; 2. Introduction to kinetic theory; 3. Single particle motion and geomagnetically trapped particles; 4. Magnetohydrodynamics; 5. Solar physics; 6. The solar wind; 7. The interaction of the solar wind, planets and other solar system bodies; 8. The magnetosphere; Appendix.