A nonlinearity is one of the most important notions in modern physics. A plasma is rich in nonlinearities and provides a variety of behaviors inherent to instabilities, coherent wave structures and turbulence. The book covers the basic concepts and mathematical methods, necessary to comprehend nonlinear problems widely encountered in contemporary plasmas, but also in other fields of physics and current research on self-organized structures and magnetized plasma turbulence. The analyses make use of strongly nonlinear models solved by analytical techniques backed by extensive simulations and available experiments. The text is written for senior undergraduates, graduate students, lecturers and researchers in laboratory, space and fusion plasmas.

The Physics of Plasmas provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject, illustrating the basic theory with examples drawn from fusion, space and astrophysical plasmas. A particular strength of the book is its discussion of the various models used to describe plasma physics and the relationships between them. These include particle orbit theory, fluid equations, ideal and resistive magnetohydrodynamics, wave equations and kinetic theory. The reader will gain a firm grounding in the fundamentals, and develop this into an understanding of some of the more specialised topics. Throughout the text, there is an emphasis on the physical interpretation of plasma phenomena. Exercises are provided throughout. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students of physics, applied mathematics, astronomy and engineering will find a clear but rigorous explanation of the fundamental properties of plasmas with minimal mathematical formality. This book will also appeal to research physicists, nuclear and electrical engineers.

In recent years the significant progress in satellite-based observations of plasma states and associated electromagnetic phenomena in space has resulted in the accumulation of much evidence of various plasma instabilities. Today plasma instabilities are believed to be responsible for electromagnetic radiation as well as for many of the macroscopic dynamics of plasmas in space. Most students who begin to study plasma physics are intrigued by the unstable nature of plasmas compared with other states of matter; however, they often become frustrated because there are so many in stabilities. Such frustration explains in part why there is no textbook which treats this subject exclusively. A description of plasma instabilities in a systematic way is nontrivial and takes a pertinacious effort. This book is an attempt to provide a basic introduction on the subject and covers most of the important instabilities. However, the author must apologize for any omission of references to contributions of individuals who deserve more credit. The reader is assumed to have a general knowledge of plasma physics obtainable in an undergraduate course. The book is intended to be used as a reference text on the subject of plasma instabilities at the under graduate level as well as for a text in a special course in graduate school. Because the book is part of a series on physics and chemistry in space, emphasis is placed on plasma instabilities relevant in space plasmas.

Dynamical systems and Nonlinear Waves in Plasmas is written in a clear and comprehensible style to serve as a compact volume for advanced postgraduate students and researchers working in the areas of Applied Physics, Applied Mathematics, Dynamical Systems, Nonlinear waves in Plasmas or other nonlinear media. It provides an introduction to the background of dynamical systems, waves, oscillations and plasmas. Basic concepts of dynamical systems and phase plane analysis for the study of dynamical properties of nonlinear waves in plasmas are presented. Different kinds of waves in plasmas are introduced. Reductive perturbative technique and its applications to derive different kinds of nonlinear evolution equations in plasmas are discussed. Analytical wave solutions of these nonlinear evolution equations are presented using the concept of bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems in a very simple way. Bifurcations of both small and arbitrary amplitudes of various nonlinear acoustic waves in plasmas are presented using phase plots and time-series plots. Super nonlinear waves and its bifurcation behaviour are discussed for various plasma systems. Multiperiodic, quasiperiodic and chaotic motions of nonlinear plasma waves are discussed in presence of external periodic force. Multistability of plasma waves is investigated. Stable oscillation of plasma waves is also presented in dissipative plasmas. The book is meant for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying plasma physics. It will also serve a reference to the researchers, scientists and faculties to pursue the dynamics of nonlinear waves and its properties in plasmas. It describes the concept of dynamical systems and is useful in understanding exciting features, such as solitary wave, periodic wave, supernonlinear wave, chaotic, quasiperiodic and coexisting structures of nonlinear waves in plasmas. The concepts and approaches, discussed in the book, will also help the students and professionals to study such features in other nonlinear media.

Presents in a systematic and unified manner the ray method, in its various forms, for studying nonlinear wave propagation in situations of physical interest, essentially fluid dynamics and plasma physics.

A Nobel Foundation Symposium on the subject: "Nonlinear Effects 1n Plasmas", was held at Aspenasgarden, Lerum, in the G6teborg area of Sweden from June 11-17, 1976. The Symposium was the 36th in the series of Nobel Foundation Symposia, which have been held mainly within the areas of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace prizes. Some 30 leading experts from the United States, Soviet Union, Japan and Western Europe attended the Symposium. The purpose of the Symposium was to discuss various topics in the field of modern plasma physics. We had to select from this vast area of active research a suitable common theme with a great number of new and interesting contributions. We decided to devote our Sym posium in particular to nonlinear effects in plasmas and to emphasize some areas where important developments seemed to be taking place. In recent years basic theory and experiments in nonlinear plasma physics have been stimulated largely by the need for an energy source based on fusion of light nuclei. In many laboratories all over the world attempts are being made to come closer to the final goal by studying magnetically confined plasmas and systems of inertial con finement. Heating of plasmas to fusion temperatures remains a key problem. There are good reasons to believe that the nonlinear effects in plasmas will play an important role for fusion, a long-range program which is still largely in its basic research phase.