Magnetic Reconnection in Plasmas [Paperback]

This book, first published in 2000, is a comprehensive introduction to this major topic in plasma physics; for graduates and researchers.This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of magnetic field line reconnection, now a major subject in plasma physics. The book covers the classical resistive approach as well as presenting an overview of collisionless plasmas. The book includes applications to magnetic field generation in stars and planets, magnetospheric processes and to the sawtooth phenomenon in fusion plasmas. The book will be of value to researchers and graduate students interested in magnetic processes, both in astrophysical and laboratory plasma physics.This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of magnetic field line reconnection, now a major subject in plasma physics. The book covers the classical resistive approach as well as presenting an overview of collisionless plasmas. The book includes applications to magnetic field generation in stars and planets, magnetospheric processes and to the sawtooth phenomenon in fusion plasmas. The book will be of value to researchers and graduate students interested in magnetic processes, both in astrophysical and laboratory plasma physics.This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of magnetic field line reconnection, now a major subject in plasma physics. Biskamp focuses on the various reconnection mechanisms dominating magnetic processes under the different plasma conditions encountered in astrophysical systems and in laboratory fusion devices. The book consists of two major parts: the first deals with the classical resistive approach, while the second presents an overview of weakly collisional or collisionless plasmas. Applications primarily concern astrophysical phenomena and dynamo theory, with emphasis on the solar and geodynamo, as well as magnetospheric substorms--the most spectacular reconnection events in the magnetospheric plasma. The theoretical procedlÓÕ