Following on from the companion volume Principles of Magnetohydrodynamics, this textbook analyzes the applications of plasma physics to thermonuclear fusion and plasma astrophysics from the single viewpoint of MHD. This approach turns out to be ever more powerful when applied to streaming plasmas (the vast majority of visible matter in the Universe), toroidal plasmas (the most promising approach to fusion energy), and nonlinear dynamics (where it all comes together with modern computational techniques and extreme transonic and relativistic plasma flows). The textbook interweaves theory and explicit calculations of waves and instabilities of streaming plasmas in complex magnetic geometries. It is ideally suited to advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in plasma physics and astrophysics.

From the companion volume:‘Goedbloed and Poedts have written a unique and outstanding volume on theoretical magnetohydrodynamics … The reader is carefully and clearly guided on a mathematical journey through the essential arguments, which serves as a concise road map across the vast territory of mathematical plasma kinetics … the present volume … is an outstanding contribution to the subject of MHD theory and its applications. Supplemented with … [the companion volume], it might well become the definitive treatise on the subject.’

Gene Parker Source: Journal of Fluid Mechanics

'… an engaging text … The authors present many examples to good effect, and derive results efficiently and clearly from fundamental relationships. Units (mksA) are, blessedly, explicit. The authors' clarity inspires eagerness to dig into derivations and examples … Goedbloed and Poedts have thoughtfully asterisked those sections that are optional for a first course in MHD …'

E. J. Zeta Source: American Journal of Physics