Magnetohydrodynamic Phenomena - an Introduction
Module PH2037
Module version of WS 2022/3 (current)
There are historic module descriptions of this module. A module description is valid until replaced by a newer one.
Whether the module’s courses are offered during a specific semester is listed in the section Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature below.
| available module versions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS 2022/3 | WS 2021/2 | WS 2019/20 | WS 2017/8 | WS 2016/7 | WS 2010/1 |
Basic Information
PH2037 is a semester module in German or English language at Master’s level which is offered in winter semester.
This Module is included in the following catalogues within the study programs in physics.
- Specific catalogue of special courses for nuclear, particle, and astrophysics
- Specific catalogue of special courses for Applied and Engineering Physics
- Complementary catalogue of special courses for condensed matter physics
- Complementary catalogue of special courses for Biophysics
If not stated otherwise for export to a non-physics program the student workload is given in the following table.
| Total workload | Contact hours | Credits (ECTS) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 h | 30 h | 5 CP |
Responsible coordinator of the module PH2037 is Klaus Hallatschek.
Content, Learning Outcome and Preconditions
Content
The most important phenomena in ideal fluid dynamics,
magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics will be explained in an
visually accessible way using illustrative examples and some
experiments. Examples are the magnetic fields in the solar system,
dynamo effect in the sun, plasma confinement in controlled nuclear
fusion experiments. Apart from plasma and astro physics, the basics of
fluid mechanics and electrodynamics are discussed and revisited:
- solar wind
- heliosphere
- dynamo effect
- magnetic forces
- magnetic levitation
- plasma equilibria
- single particle picture / collective picture
- instabilities
- turbulence
- turbulent convection
- conservation laws
- turbulent cascades
Learning Outcome
After successful participation in this module, the students will be able to:
- understand the magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) equations, their main consequences, and their scope of application
- explain the connection between the motion of individual particles and the MHD equations
- discuss the conditions for stable magnetic equilibria plasmas
- describe the MHD instability mechanisms
- understand the turbulence and turbulent transport in unstable MHD plasmas
Preconditions
No preconditions in addition to the requirements for the Master’s program in Physics.
Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature
Courses and Schedule
| Type | SWS | Title | Lecturer(s) | Dates | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VO | 2 | Magnetohydrodynamic Phenomena - an Introduction | Hallatschek, K. |
Wed, 10:15–11:45, PH II 227 |
eLearning |
Learning and Teaching Methods
In the thematically structured lecture the learning content is presented. With cross references between different topics the universal concepts in physics are shown. In scientific discussions the students are involved to stimulate their analytic-physics intellectual power.
In exercises the learning content is deepened and exercised using problem examples and calculations. Thus the students are able to explain and apply the learned physics knowledge independently.
To motivate and for visualization demonstration experiments are shown in the lecture.
Media
Transparencies, black board work, exercises, question catalogue, movies, etc.
Literature
- F.F. Chen: Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, Springer, (2016)
- R.J. Goldston & P.H. Rutherford: Introduction to Plasma physics, Routledge, (1995)
- J. Wesson: Tokamaks, Oxford University Press, (1997)
- U. Frisch: Turbulence: The Legacy of A.N. Kolmogorov, Cambridge University Press, (2010)
- R.D. Hazeltine: The Framework of Plasma Physics, Westview Press, (2004)
- D. Biskamp: Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamics, Cambridge University Press, (1997)
- E.M. Lifshitz, L.P. Pitaevskii, L.D. Landau: Physical Kinetics: Volume 10, Butterworth-Heinemann, (1981)
Module Exam
Description of exams and course work
There will be an oral exam of 25 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions and sample calculations.
For example an assignment in the exam might be:
- Describe the structure of the solar magnetic field in the heliosphere.
- What magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) instability mechanisms do you know?
- How fast does the Rayleigh-Taylor-instability grow?
- Under which conditions do stable magnetic equilibria in plasmas occur?
Exam Repetition
The exam may be repeated at the end of the semester.
Current exam dates
Currently TUMonline lists the following exam dates. In addition to the general information above please refer to the current information given during the course.
| Title | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Location | Info | Registration |
| Exam to Introduction to Magneto Hydrodynamics | |||
| Mon, 2024-02-05 till 23:55 | Dummy-Termin. Wenden Sie sich zur individuellen Terminvereinbarung an die/den Prüfer(in). Anmeldung für Prüfungstermin vor 23.03.2024. // Dummy date. Contact examiner for individual appointment. Registration for exam date before 2024-Mar-23. | till 2024-01-15 (cancelation of registration till 2024-02-04) | |
| Mon, 2024-03-25 till 23:55 | Dummy-Termin. Wenden Sie sich zur individuellen Terminvereinbarung an die/den Prüfer(in). Anmeldung für Prüfungstermin zwischen 25.03.2024 und 20.04.2024. // Dummy date. Contact examiner for individual appointment. Registration for exam date between 2024-Mar-25 and 2024-Apr-20. | till 2024-03-24 | |