Whistler and Alfven Mode Cyclotron Masers in Space

Description

The subject of wave-particle interactions occurring in space plasmas has developed strongly, both observationally and theoretically, since the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts of energetic charged particles trapped in the Earth's magnetosphere over forty years ago. These wave-particle interactions are recognized today as being a most important research topic in space plasma physics. This book provides a full and systematic description of the physical theory of whistler and Alfven cyclotron masers acting in planetary magnetospheres, and in the Sun's outer atmosphere. The book introduces research topics by examining significant problems in the subject. It gives sufficient detail on the topic that readers can go on to apply the methods presented to new problems, helping them with their own research. This book is a valuable reference for researchers and graduate students working in space science, solar-terrestrial physics, plasma physics, and planetary sciences.

Victor Trakhtengerts (1939-2007) was Head of the Sector of Ionospheric and Magnetospheric Physics, at the Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Science, and Professor of the State University in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation. He was a member of Editorial boards of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy and the Journal of Solar-Terrestrial Physics. Michael Rycroft is a Visiting Professor at the School of Engineering, Cranfield University, U.K., and at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics from 1989 to 1999 and, since 2002, has been Managing Editor of the overview journal Surveys in Geophysics.