Kappa Distributions: Theory & Applications in Plasmas presents the theoretical developments of kappa distributions and their applications in space plasmas and how these affect the underpinnings of our understanding of space and plasma physics, astrophysics, and statistical mechanics - thermodynamics. As such, this book will be applicable for geophysicists, especially those interested in space and planetary science - particularly space plasma and upper earth atmosphere.
Kappa Distributions: Theory & Applications in Plasmas is separated into three major parts: theoretical methods; analytical methods in plasmas and applications in space plasmas. The first part of the book focuses on basic aspects of the theory of kappa distributions. The book starts from the connection of kappa distributions with a solid statistical background: the non-extensive statistical mechanics. The book then moves on to plasma physics, and is devoted to analytical methods related to kappa distributions on various basic plasma topics, spanning linear/nonlinear plasma waves, solitons, shock waves, and dusty plasmas. The final part of the book deals with applications in space plasmas and focuses on applications of theoretical and analytical developments in space plasmas from all over the heliosphere and beyond.
- Answers important questions such as how plasma waves are affected by kappa distributions and how solar wind and planetary/cometary magnetospheres can be modeled using kappa distributions
- Presents the features of kappa distributions in the context of space plasmas including how kappa indices, temperatures, and densities vary among the various species populations in different space plasmas
- Provides readers with the information they will need in order to decide which specific formulae of kappa distribution should be used for a certain occasion and system
Papildus informācija
Presents the theoretical developments of kappa distributions, their applications in geophysical, space, and astrophysical plasmas, and our understanding of statistical mechanics in plasmas and other particle systems residing in stationary states out of thermal equilibrium
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| Preface |
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PART 1 Theory and Formalism |
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Chapter 1 Statistical Background of Kappa Distributions: Connection With Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics |
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3 | (62) |
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Chapter 2 Entropy Associated With Kappa Distributions |
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65 | (40) |
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Chapter 3 Phase Space Kappa Distributions With Potential Energy |
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105 | (72) |
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Chapter 4 Formulae of Kappa Distributions: Toolbox |
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177 | (72) |
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Chapter 5 Basic Plasma Parameters Described by Kappa Distributions |
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249 | (64) |
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Chapter 6 Superstatistics: Superposition of Maxwell Boltzmann Distributions |
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313 | (16) |
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Chapter 7 Linear Kinetic Waves in Plasmas Described by Kappa Distributions |
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329 | (34) |
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Chapter 8 Nonlinear Wave-Particle Interaction and Electron Kappa Distribution |
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363 | (36) |
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Chapter 9 Solitary Waves in Plasmas Described by Kappa Distributions |
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399 | (22) |
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PART 3 Applications in Space Plasmas |
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Chapter 10 Ion Distributions in Space Plasmas |
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421 | (44) |
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Chapter 11 Electron Distributions in Space Plasmas |
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465 | (16) |
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Chapter 12 The Kappa-Shaped Particle Spectra in Planetary Magnetospheres |
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481 | (42) |
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Chapter 13 Kappa Distributions and the Solar Spectra: Theory and Observations |
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523 | (26) |
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Chapter 14 Importance of Kappa Distributions to Solar Radio Bursts |
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549 | (20) |
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Chapter 15 Common Spectrum of Particles Accelerated in the Heliosphere: Observations and a Mechanism |
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569 | (40) |
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Chapter 16 Formation of Kappa Distributions at Quasiperpendicular Shock Waves |
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609 | (24) |
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Chapter 17 Electron Kappa Distributions in Astrophysical Nebulae |
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633 | (24) |
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| Appendix A Abbreviations |
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657 | (4) |
| Appendix B Main Symbols |
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661 | (4) |
| References |
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665 | (46) |
| Index |
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711 | |
Dr. George Livadiotis is a Senior Research Scientist in Southwest Research Institute. He is a leading expert on the field of kappa distributions and its statistical background, the framework of non-extensive statistical mechanics. Among other theoretical achievements, he developed (i) the connection of kappa distributions with non-extensive statistical mechanics, (ii) the formula of entropy that is related to the kappa distributions, (iii) the generalization of kappa distribution to describe the whole Hamiltonian of particles, the kinetic and potential energy, (iv) the different types of consistent formulae of kappa distributions, (v) the shock RankineHugoniot conditions for kappa distributions. Among other applications, he used kappa distributions to describe the proton populations in many space plasmas in the heliosphere and the heliosheath.
