Details of SS4203 (Spring 2016)
| Level: 4 | Type: Theory | Credits: 3.0 |
| Course Code | Course Name | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| SS4203 | Fluid- and Magneto-hydrodynamics (FM-HD) | Dibyendu Nandi |
| This course requires approval from the respective instructor for enrolment |
| Preamble |
|---|
| This course is open to students from CESSI, DPS and anybody else who is interested and eligible to take this course. Few lecture modules by CESSI affiliated faculty may be organized based on need.
Fluids are ubiquitous in the physical and living world and fluid dynamical processes, including instabilities, play an important role in governing a diverse range of phenomena. Plasmas in various forms constitute over 95 % of the observable universe and plasma phenomena play an important role in laboratory devices such as Spheromaks and Tokamaks. Under certain conditions plasma behave as a continuum and flows in such plasma systems can generate magnetic fields through dynamo action leading to a host of interesting phenomena in stars and in the Universe. This course is designed to provide interested students an understanding of principles of fluid dynamics, plasma physics and the dynamics of magnetized plasmas in the astrophysical and laboratory context. |
| Syllabus |
|---|
| Fluid Dynamics: Fluids in the Universe, Basic Equations of Fluid Dynamics, Fluid Instabilities, Helicity, Convective Turbulence
Plasma physics: Kinetics, Particle orbits, Guiding center theory, The BBGKY hierarchy, Moments of the distribution function, Wave-particle interactions (e.g., Landau damping), Transport coefficients Magnetohydrodynamics: Waves in Plasmas, Governing equations of MHD, MHD instabilities and flows, Magnetic helicity Applications to Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas: MHD dynamos, Magnetic reconnection, Stellar winds, Jets from compact objects, Plasma confinement, Spheromaks, Tokamaks |
| Prerequisite |
|---|
| Undergraduate level knowledge of Mathematical Methods, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics and Nuclear physics will be assumed. |
| References |
|---|
| 1. The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas; Arnab Rai Choudhuri (Cambridge)
2. Plasma Physics: An Introduction to the theory of astrophysical, geophysical and laboratory plasmas: Peter A Sturrock (Cambridge) 3. The Physics of Plasmas: T J M Boyd, J J Sanderson (Cambridge) 4. Solar Magnetohydrodynamics, Eric R. Priest (Kluwer Academic Presss) 5. Magnetic Reconnection: MHD Theory and Applications, Eric R. Priest and Terry. G. Forbes (Cambridge) |
Course Credit Options
| Sl. No. | Programme | Semester No | Course Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP | 2 | Not Allowed |
| 2 | IP | 4 | Elective |
| 3 | IP | 6 | Elective |
| 4 | MR | 2 | Elective |
| 5 | MR | 4 | Not Allowed |
| 6 | MS | 8 | Elective |
| 7 | RS | 1 | Elective |
| 8 | RS | 2 | Elective |