The book deals with two principal topics that are closely linked; basic plasma and space physics mostly related to solar system plasma. The first part contains the basic plasma processes. It includes the derivation and discussions on single particle motion in electric and magnetic fields, fluid equations for one and two fluid concepts, conductivities, diffusion, frozen-in-field concept, plasma waves, instabilities, nonlinear effects leading to solitons etc.. In kinetic approach, it provides discussions on Landau damping, wave-particle interaction, Nyquist diagrams and instabilities. The second part is fully devoted the important space plasma phenomena particularly in solar terrestrial environment. Solar wind, solar wind interaction with the planetary ionosphere and magnetosphere, magnetic reconnection, substorm phenomenon, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, wave-particle interaction, trapping of particles in the wave leading to some important emission processes are some of the highlights of the second part.

Preface / Part 1: Basic Plasma Processes / Introduction / Single Particle Motion / Statistical Description / Fluid Description of Plasma / Further Analysis-Macroscopic Domain / Magneto hydordynamics / MHD Waves-General Description / Dispersion Relation for MHD Waves / Waves in a Plasma / Plasma Waves in Magnetized Plasma / Plasma Instability / Nonlinear Waves, Soliton / Kinetic Theory of Waves and Instabilities / Part II: Space Physics / The Sun and the Solar Wind / Solar Wind Plasma Interaction with the Planetary Magnetosphere / Convection in the Magnetosphere: Coupling with Ionosphere / Dynamics of Particles and Fields in the Radiation Belt / Whistlers and VLF Emissions in Earth’s Magnetosphere / Parametric Instabilities and Striations in Ionosphere Modification / Magnetosphere on Inner Planets: Venus, Mars and Mercury / Magnetosphere of Outer Planets / References / Index

Graduate Students and Researchers in the field of Space Plasma Physics