Introduction to Plasmas and Plasma Dynamics

Chapter 7

Macroscopic Equations of Plasmas

Abstract

This chapter defines the equations that describe the plasma as a macroscopic fluid. The appropriate terms for energy and momentum transfer to the fluid are derived. The fluid equations are first presented for multiple species and then for the simplified single fluid average properties. Electron momentum conservation is given detailed consideration. The magnetohydrodynamics approximations are identified and evaluated. The fluid equations are examined to identify similarity parameters for plasmas and plasma dynamics.

Keywords

Energy and momentum transfer; Multicomponent species conservation equations; Similarity parameters; Single fluid and MHD approximations

Introduction

The previous chapters have dealt ...