MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS AND PLASMA PHYSICS

FIS/06 - 6 CFU - 1° semestre

Docente titolare dell'insegnamento

FRANCESCA ZUCCARELLO


Obiettivi formativi

The course is aimed at providing the student the basic knowledge and the state of the art of some topics in Magnetohydrodynamics and Plasma Physics: deepened knowledge of laws of electromagnetism; knowledge of the motions of charged particles in presence of magnetic, electric or other force fields; knowledge of the concept and properties of plasma; magnetohydrodynamics approach; frozen magnetic fields; knowledge of 2D and 3D reconnection mechanisms.


Prerequisiti richiesti

Electromagnetism. Maxwell's Laws. Lorentz Force. Conservation Laws.



Frequenza lezioni

The attendance to lectures is usually mandatory.



Contenuti del corso

Program of the course

Electric and magnetic fields: The electromagnetic field. Potential magnetic field. The scalar electric potential. Faraday induction equation. Magnetic dipole field. The interplanetary magnetic field.

Plasma Physics: Plasma definition. Concept of temperature of a plasma. Debye distance. Plasma oscillations. Parameters that characterize a plasma. Diffusion in a plasma. Collisional and non-collisional plasma. Plasma kinetic description. Distribution function. Moments of the distribution function. Vlasov equation.

Theory of orbits: Van Allen Radiation belts. Lorentz force. Motion of particles and motion of the guiding center. Motion of a particle in a constant magnetic field. Magnetic moment. Mirror points. Adiabatic invariants.

Magnetohydrodynamic equations: Eulerian and Lagrangian points of view. Forces acting on a fluid. Continuity equation. Equation of motion. Equation of energy conservation. System of equations of the MHD. Induction equation. Magnetic Reynolds number. Decay of the magnetic field in absence of motion. Evolution of the magnetic field in presence of motion of the fluid and with an infinite conductivity. Conservation law of the magnetic flux. Law of the frozen magnetic field.

Magnetic reconnection: Neutral points. Current sheets. Sweet Parker model. Petschek model. Tearing mode instability. Coalescence instability. 3D magnetic reconnection.



Testi di riferimento


Altro materiale didattico

Presentations (ppt or pdf) used during the lectures will be distributed to students.



Programmazione del corso

 *ArgomentiRiferimenti testi
1*Dipolar Magnetic field and Earth magnetosphereNotes provided by the teacher 
2*Debye length and plasma electric neutrality C. Chiuderi & M. Velli: Fisica del Plasma 
3*Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic fieldNotes provided by the teacher 
4*Adiabatic invariantsNotes provided by the teacher 
5*Induction equationC. Chiuderi & M. Velli: Fisica del Plasma 
6*Frozen field LawE. R. Priest : Solar magnetohydrodynamics  
7*Properties of current sheetsE. R. Priest : Solar magnetohydrodynamics  
8*Magnetic reconnection processE. R. Priest : Solar magnetohydrodynamics 
* Conoscenze minime irrinunciabili per il superamento dell'esame.

N.B. La conoscenza degli argomenti contrassegnati con l'asterisco è condizione necessaria ma non sufficiente per il superamento dell'esame. Rispondere in maniera sufficiente o anche più che sufficiente alle domande su tali argomenti non assicura, pertanto, il superamento dell'esame.


Verifica dell'apprendimento


MODALITÀ DI VERIFICA DELL'APPRENDIMENTO

Verification of learning will be carried out through an oral final exam. Through questions related to qualifying points of the various parts of the program, the exam is aimed at ascertaining the overall level of knowledge acquired by the candidate, his/her ability to critically address the topics studied and to correlate the various parts of the program.

The final grade will equally match the knowledge shown in the qualitative and quantitative arguments, the critical view of the topics dealt with during the course and the ability to correlate the various parts of the program.


PROVE IN ITINERE

N/A


PROVE DI FINE CORSO

See the information provided above.


ESEMPI DI DOMANDE E/O ESERCIZI FREQUENTI



Apri in formato Pdf English version