The idea of synthesizing quantum electrodynamics (QED) and the kinetic theory of plasmas ?rst occurred to me in the early 1970s [1, 2]. The project to do so has been carried out bit by bit over the subsequent years. The name “quantum plasmadynamics” (QPD) is my own jargon [3] for the synthesized theory. Both QED and the kinetic theory of plasmas areconcerned with the int- action between charged particles and the electromagnetic ?eld, but they are radically di?erent in the way the interaction is described. The kinetic theory of plasmas is a collective-medium theory: a plasma is not a collection of – dependent particles in a given electromagnetic ?eld, but a medium in which the particles collectively modify the ?eld, and the ?eld modi?es the par- cles. The charge and current densities associated with the particles are part of a self-consistent ?eld. Conventionally, the kinetic theory of plasmas is a classical theory: the motions of particles are treated using classical dynamics.
Editorial Reviews
Review
From the reviews:
“The ten chapters and 464 pages book is one of Lecture Notes Series of Monographs on Physics and gives the best introduction to the quantum electrodynamics and the kinetic theory relativistic and non-relativistic charged particles. The author of the book is focusing on interactions between charged particles and the electromagnetic field. … Materials of the most important part of the book are supported by illustrations. … useful for advanced graduate students, scientists and all who are interesting on the plasma physics and the confinement systems.” (M. J. Canfell, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1158, 2009)
“Melrose’s addition to the Lecture Notes in Physics series provides an introduction to both QED and the kinetic theory of charged particles, while detailing the synthesis of these fields into the modern subject of quantum plasmadynamics (QPD). … this first volume of the collection focuses only on unmagnetized plasmas. … this book may be useful for advanced graduate students and working scientists interested in the dynamics and behavior of quantum plasmas.” (Stephen D. Pankavich, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2012 a)
From the Back Cover
The field of quantum plasmas has a long and diverse tradition and is becoming of increasing current interest, motivated by applications to micro-electronics and to focused high-power lasers. In this book, plasma kinetic theory is developed in a covariant (4-tensor) notation, which facilitates generalizations to include all relativistic and electromagnetic effects. Relativistic quantum effects are included by using quantum electrodynamics (QED) to calculate the plasma response 4-tenors. The effects of the plasma are included in QED by replacing the photon propagator in vacuo by that in the medium, such that the poles of this propagator correspond to the natural wave modes of the medium.
About the Author
Following completion of his doctoral thesis, in theoretical particle physics at Oxford University in 1965, Don Melrose changed his research interests to plasma astrophysics. After post-doctoral appointments in the UK and the USA he returned to Australia in 1969, to the Australian National University until he took up his current appointment as Professor of Physics (Theoretical) at the University of Sydney in 1979. He made important contributions to the theory of coherent emission processes in astrophysics: plasma emission in solar radio bursts, electron cyclotron maser emission and pulsar radio emission. His current interests include pulsars, quantum plasmas and solar flares.
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