Computational Plasma Science

The book presents fundamentals of plasma physics with rich references and computational techniques in a concise manner. It particularly focuses on introductions to numerical simulation methods in plasma physics, in addition to those to physics and mathematics in plasma physics. It also presents the fundamentals of numerical methods, which solve mathematical models of plasmas, together with examples of numerical results. A discretization method, the so-called finite difference method, is introduced for particle-in-cell methods and fluid codes, which have been widely employed in plasma physics studies. In addition to the introduction to numerical solutions, it also covers numerical stability. The instabilities and numerical errors significantly influence the results, and for correct results, great efforts are required to avoid such numerical artifacts. The book also carefully discusses the numerical errors, numerical stability, and uncertainty in numerical computations.

Readersare expected to have an understanding of fundamental physics of mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, statistical physics, relativity, fluid dynamics, and mathematics, but the book does not assume background knowledge on plasma. Therefore, it is a first book of plasma physics for upper undergraduate and early graduate students who are interested in learning it.

Shigeo Kawata is an adjunct professor at Utsunomiya University in Japan and a guest professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. He received his doctoral degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1985. He was a professor at Utsunomiya University in 1999–2021, and then served as a deputy president, a university council member, and the dean of the new Graduate School of Regional Development and Creativity. He also enthusiastically contributed to the education of graduate students and young visiting researchers from the world in plasma physics and controlled nuclear fusion.

Dr. Kawata’s research interests are in numerical and theoretical studies on ion beam inertial confinement fusion, laser particle acceleration, and dynamic mitigation of plasma instability as well as the computer-assisted scientific computing environment. He has published more than 200 articles in major international journals and numerous papers at international conferences with many invited and keynote talks.