Plasma astrophysics. Lectures held at the astrophysics school VII, organized by the European Astrophysics Doctoral Network (EADN) in San Miniato, Italy, October 4-14, 1994 (Q1913546)

[The articles of this volume will not be indexed individually.] Each of seven chapters in the book is a comprehensive, graduate level lecture, given by the leading experts on subjects related to various processes in astrophysical plasmas. The first four lectures (Resistive and collisionless magnetic reconnection; Rotating MHD winds; Particle acceleration; Turbulence, statistics and structures: An introduction) cover the basic plasma theory with applications to numerous configurations found in stellar atmospheres. The remaining three chapters (Radio astronomical diagnostics; Spectroscopic diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas; Hot plasma in space: X-ray diagnostics instrumentation) are devoted to the observational and instrumental methods in plasma astrophysics. The detailed theoretical derivations are useful not only to astrophysicists but also to those who work in the field of the plasma physics in general. The subjects include linear and nonlinear MHD processes in stationary and nonstationary plasmas, particle acceleration mechanisms, magnetic field reconnection mechanisms, plasma turbulence, radiative processes in plasmas, and various plasma diagnostics techniques used in radio astronomy. Broad lists of references at the end of each chapter will help the reader to obtain a deeper insight into the considered problems.