Plasma Physics

Code:

FIS3007

Acronym:

FIS3007

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2017/2018 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Engineering Physics
Course/CS Responsible:	Master's Degree in Physical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MI:EF	8	study plan from 2017/18	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

An introduction to Plasma Physics will be given in this curricular unit. Its main goal is to present to the
student the basic properties of plasmas. The student can then apply these fundamental concepts to other
fields of plasma physics such as, thermonuclear fusion and plasma discharges.
This curricular unit (CU) presents the fundamentals of plasma physics, in a step by step methodology. These
issues are presented in a comprehensive and coherent logic sequence. In this curricular unit application
problems and examples are presented, together with the appropriate tools to solve them.

Learning outcomes and competences

The teaching / learning process is focused on the student’s work, together with monitoring of the
development and acquisition of knowledge and skills by the student.
More to the point, the present curricular unit adopts a teaching methodology that privileges the acquisition
of specialized and specific competencies that qualify the student for the competent exercise of his/her skills
on research, in particular in what concerns plasma physics.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Newtonian mechanics; thermodynamics and statistical mechanics; electromagnetism and electrodynamics; waves.

Program

1-Definition of plasma. Debye shielding. Criteria for the definition of plasma. Debye length. Plasma
frequency. Plasmas in nature. Some applications of plasma physics.
2-Charged particle motion in electromagnetic fields.
3-Elements of plasma kinetic theory. Phase space. Distribution function. Average values of a
physical quantity. Boltzmann and Vlassov equations.
4-Plasma description as a conducting fluid. Electrodynamic equations for a conducting fluid.
Simplified MHD equations.
5-Plasma conductivity and diffusion.
6-Waves in cold plasmas. Wave propagation in isotropic electron plasmas and in magnetized cold
plasmas.

Mandatory literature

Bittencourt J. A.; Fundamentals of plasma physics. ISBN: 0-387-20975-1
Inan Umran S.; Principles of plasma physics for engineers and scientists. ISBN: 978-0-521-19372-6
Chen Francis F. 1929-; Introduction to plasma physics and controlled fusion. ISBN: 0-306-41332-9 (V. 1)

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lectures (TEORICAS): complete discussion of the subjects and exercise solving of main basis cases.

Exercise classes (TEÓRICO-PRÁTICAS): exercise solving under the supervision of the teacher of several exercises.

The distributed evaluationre will consist of two tests in pre-defined dates.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Participação presencial	0,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	76,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	162,00

Calculation formula of final grade

The course final mark is obtained as the sum between the marks obtained in EF and the value obtained in AD with 40% and EF with of 60% according to the formula given below:

CF = EF * 0.60 + AD * 0.40

where

CF - Final Mark (0 to 20 points)
EF - Final Exam (0 to 20 points)
AD - Average of the classification of the 3 home working problems of Distributed Evaluation (0 to 20 points).