Introduction to Plasma Physics I
Plasma, the fourth state of matter that dominates the visible universe, is the subject of this MIT course covering the models physicists use to describe its behavior. Topics include single-particle motion, kinetic theory, fluid descriptions of plasma, and the physics underlying applications in astrophysics and controlled fusion. Materials include lecture notes, problem sets, and exams from MIT's OpenCourseWare, drawn from the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering and taught alongside courses in Physics and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The course assumes prior background in electromagnetism and classical mechanics and builds toward the mathematical tools needed to analyze charged particle behavior in fields. As with all MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, the materials are free to access and there is no certificate offered, paid or otherwise.