This didactic book uses a data-driven approach to connect measurements made by plasma instruments to the real world. This approach makes full use of the instruments’ capability and examines the data at the most detailed level an experiment can provide. Students using this approach will learn what instruments can measure, and working with real-world data will pave their way to models consistent with these observations. While conceived as a teaching tool, the book contains a considerable amount of new information. It emphasizes recent results, such as particle measurements made from the Cluster ion experiment, explores the consequences of new discoveries, and evaluates new trends or techniques in the field. At the same time, the author ensures that the physical concepts used to interpret the data are general and widely applicable. The topics included help readers understand basic problems fundamental to space plasma physics. Some are appearing for the first time in a space physics textbook. Others present different perspectives and interpretations of old problems and models that were previously considered incontestable. This book is essential reading for graduate students in space plasma physics, and a useful reference for the broader astrophysics community.

An engaging introduction to collisionless shocks in space plasmas, presenting a complete review, from first principles to current research.

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 102. Space plasma measurements are conducted in a hostile, remote environment. The art and science of measurements gathered in space depend therefore on unique instrument designs and fabrication methods to an extent perhaps unprecedented in experimental physics. In-situ measurement of space plasmas constitutes an expensive, unforgiving, and highly visible form of scientific endeavor.

Non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are of intense interest in current low-temperature plasma research because of their immense potential for material processing and biomedical applications. Depending on the jet configuration and the electrical excitation, plasma characteristics including heat, charged particle, electric field, and chemically active species may differ significantly. Other important parameters of importance in these studies are the kind of utilized working gas and gas flow rate. This book presents the electrical characterization of DBD-based APPJs for three electrode arrangements: ring electrode, pin electrode and floating helix electrode configurations. The analysis presented here will serve to help in establishing an optimum range of operation for a cold plasma jet without arcing and without any physical damage to the electrodes. Furthermore, the experimental results provided in the book establish the significance of the type of working gas on the power consumption and on the jet length obtained. These developed cold DBD-based APPJs of larger lengths may be useful for diverse biological applications and surface treatments.

Kappa Distributions: Theory and Applications in Plasmas presents the theoretical developments of kappa distributions, their applications in plasmas, and how they affect the underpinnings of our understanding of space and plasma physics, astrophysics, and statistical mechanics/thermodynamics. Separated into three major parts, the book covers theoretical methods, analytical methods in plasmas, and applications in space plasmas. The first part of the book focuses on basic aspects of the statistical theory of kappa distributions, beginning with their connection to the solid backgrounds of non-extensive statistical mechanics. The book then moves on to plasma physics, and is devoted to analytical methods related to kappa distributions on various basic plasma topics, spanning linear/nonlinear plasma waves, solitons, shockwaves, and dusty plasmas. The final part of the book deals with applications in space plasmas, focusing on applications of theoretical and analytical developments in space plasmas from the heliosphere and beyond, in other astrophysical plasmas. Kappa Distributions is ideal for space, plasma, and statistical physicists; geophysicists, especially of the upper atmosphere; Earth and planetary scientists; and astrophysicists. - Answers important questions, such as how plasma waves are affected by kappa distributions and how solar wind, magnetospheres, and other geophysical, space, and astrophysical plasmas can be modeled using kappa distributions - Presents the features of kappa distributions in the context of plasmas, including how kappa indices, temperatures, and densities vary among the species populations in different plasmas - Provides readers with the information they need to decide which specific formula of kappa distribution should be used for a certain occasion and system (toolbox)

Usually called the "fourth state of matter," plasmas make up more than 99% of known material. In usual terminology, this term generally refers to partially or totally ionized gas and covers a large number of topics with very different characteristics and behaviors. Over the last few decades, the physics and engineering of plasmas was experiencing a renewed interest, essentially born of a series of important applications such as thin-layer deposition, surface treatment, isotopic separation, integrated circuit etchings, medicine, etc. Plasma Science

Based on a project backed by the European Union, this is a must-have resource for researchers in industry and academia concerned with application-oriented plasma technology research. Clearly divided in three sections, the first part is dedicated to the fundamentals of plasma and offers information about scientific and theoretical plasma topics, plasma production, surface treatment process and characterization. The second section focuses on technological aspects and plasma process applications in textile, food packaging and biomedical sectors, while the final part is devoted to concerns about the environmental sustainability of plasma processes.