Kinetic Theory of the Inner Magnetospheric Plasma (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)

The inner magnetosphere plasma is a very unique composition of different plasma particles and waves. It covers a huge energy plasma range with spatial and time variations of many orders of magnitude. In such a situation, the kinetic approach is the key element, and the starting point of the theoretical description of this plasma phenomena which requires a dedicated book to this particular area of research. Dr. George V. Khazanov is a senior scientist in the Heliosphysics Science Division at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Prior to joining NASA, he was a Tenured Professor of Physics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Khazanov has extensive experience in space plasma physics and simulation of geophysical plasmas. His specific research areas include: space plasma energization and transport, kinetic theory of superthermal electrons in the ionosphere and plasmasphere, hydrodynamic and kinetic theory of space plasma in the presence of wave activity, theoretical and numerical-modeling investigations of ionosphere-plasmasphere interactions, theoretical studies of the artificial injection of charged and neutral particles into the ionosphere, and wave and beam-induced plasma instabilities in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Dr. Khazanov was the Dean of the College of Physics, and the Theoretical Physics Department Chair at Altai State University, Russia; Director of the Ionospheric Plasma Physics Laboratory at Irkutsk State University, Russia. He supervised and directed more than 30 M.S. and 15 Ph.D. graduates. He is the author or coauthor of 6 books and about 250 peer reviewed publications.