Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence

Introduction to and modern account of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, with astrophysical applications.

Dieter Biskamp (Author)

9780521052535, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 February 2008

312 pages, 76 b/w illus. 4 tables
22.9 x 15.3 x 1.7 cm, 0.442 kg

'… I would recommend this book to all those who would like to undertake a serious study of MHD turbulence, be it from a theoretical point of view or because they are interested in applications.' Journal of Plasma Physics

This book presents an introduction to, and modern account of, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence, an active field both in general turbulence theory and in various areas of astrophysics. The book starts by introducing the MHD equations, certain useful approximations and the transition to turbulence. The second part of the book covers incompressible MHD turbulence, the macroscopic aspects connected with the different self-organization processes, the phenomenology of the turbulence spectra, two-point closure theory, and intermittency. The third considers two-dimensional turbulence and compressible (in particular, supersonic) turbulence. Because of the similarities in the theoretical approach, these chapters start with a brief account of the corresponding methods developed in hydrodynamic turbulence. The final part of the book is devoted to astrophysical applications: turbulence in the solar wind, in accretion disks, and in the interstellar medium. This book is suitable for graduate students and researchers working in turbulence theory, plasma physics and astrophysics.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Magnetohydrodynamics
3. Transition to turbulence
4. Macroscopic turbulence theory
5. Spectral properties and phenomenology
6. Two-point-closure theory
7. Intermittency
8. Two-dimensional turbulence
9. Compressible turbulence and turbulent convection
10. Turbulence in the solar wind
11. Turbulence in accretion disks
12. Interstellar turbulence
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Plasma physics [PHFP]