Physics of Solar System Plasmas

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.