Plasma Physics

This book is written by an experimentalist and covers all aspects of plasma physics at an introductory level. The fundamental concepts of plasma description are developed in a bottom-up approach of increasing mathematical complexity. The intuitive understanding of the concepts is emphasized. Different from most introductory texts, low-temperature plasmas, plasma discharges and plasma diagnostics get a much larger share. Controlled nuclear fusion is introduced and magnetic confinement is discussed at a simple level. Novel plasma phenomena as found in complex (dusty) plasmas are described. A large number of illustrations, worked out problems with solutions, and short summaries of the basics of each chapter make this text a companion for undergraduate and graduate students and a useful reference on the bookshelf.