Hot plasmas in the universe
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. R. Wolf
Time: Thursday 12-16, Place: Eugene-Paul-Wigner-Gebäude der TU, Hardenbergstr. 36, MA 545, Begin: 2013-10-17 (biweekly)
Language: English/German
Content:
The major part of the visible matter in the universe consists of plasma. Plasma states range from relativistic plasma jets, thin hot plasmas of the interstellar medium, and dense hot plasmas in the centre of stars, to terrestrial plasmas such as the aurora borealis or lightning. Extreme plasma states similar to those in the universe, also can be replicated in laboratory plasmas.
The lecture introduces the basic of high temperature plasma physics. By means of examples (interstellar medium, nuclear fusion in the stars, solar wind, laboratory plasmas, etc.) the properties of plasmas will be explained (characterization of plasmas, particle motion, fluid description, plasma transport, plasma waves). This knowledge also can be used to develop measurement techniques for determining plasma properties. At the end of the lecture a visit to the fusion experiment Wendelstein 7-X, at present under construction in Greifswald, will be organized.
Conditions:
Knowledge of physics and mathematics.
Performance:
Two-hour lecture
Target group:
Wählbare begleitende Vorlesung als Teil des Moduls Astronomie und Astrophysik im Master-Studiengang. Hinweis: Das Modul erfordert zusätzlich eine weitere begleitende Vorlesung sowie einen astrophysikalischen Praktikumsschein. ECTS: 12 Leistungspunkte für das Gesamtmodul. Sonstige Studierende mit Interesse an Plasmaphysik sowie Astronomie und Astrophysik.