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Plasma waves in space and laboratory
1670
BOOK REVIEWS J. 0. THOMASand B. J. LANDMARK(Editors): Plasma Waves in Space and Laboratory, Vol. 2. Edinburgh University Press, 1970. vi + 562 pp. f7.0.0.
PLASMAPhysics in space has developed along separate lines from laboratory plasma physics and the N.A.T.O. Advanced Study Institute at Roros, Norway, in April 1968 was an attempt to bridge the gap. Part of the proceedings has now been published. The basic introductory and review papers were presented in Volume 1, and Volume 2 contains some of the research papers on topics already introduced in Volume 1. This book should be very useful to someone in one branch of plasma waves wishing to become acquainted with work in the other branch, and it contains some important original papers. However, the delay in publication has reduced its usefulness as an up to date guide to the literature and of the 400 references more than 75 per cent are pre-1967. Unfortunately, the publishers have presented the proceedings in a textbook format and the papers are printed without abstracts, although we do gain the bonus of an index. The 35 papers are grouped under the following heading: 1. Experimental observations of plasma resonances in space, 2. Theoretical interpretation of plasma resonances, 3. Laboratory plasma wave experiments, 4. Laboratory experiments with antennas in plasmas, 5. VLF phenomena, experimental observations, 6. Theoretical interpretation of VLF emissions. These topics are treated at an advanced level and the beginner in plasma physics would need first to read an introductory text or volume 1. No astrophysical plasmas are included, and the only space plasmas considered are those observed by satellites such as Aloutte I and II and Explorer XX in the inner magnetosphere. The plasma echoes observed by these satellites are one of the major topics of this book and it is a pity that no discussion is included to help the reader resolve the differences between the half dozen different explanations given. The sections on VLF phenomena are concerned with the proton and helium ion gyro resonances, the lower hybrid resonance, the resonant effects of waves on velocity distributions, the growth of waves, and wave propagation in the presence of density gradients. The book is bound in a hard cover and is very liberally illustrated with graphs. P. D. HUDSON
D. A. KEMP (Author); C. K. Mooas and K. J. SPENCER(Series Editors): Astronomy anddstrophysics, A Bibliographical Guide. MacDonald and Co., London, 1970. xxiii + 584 pp. f10. THIS book is a guide to astronomical literature. The author has listed, in 75 sections (containing 3642 entries), important books, review articles, major papers in periodicals and report literature together with information on bibliographies and abstract services. The sections may be summarized as follows: reference media; star catalogues, ephemerides, etc.; optics; techniques; atomic and molecular spectroscopy; radio astronomy; radiative transfer; plasma physics; astronomy of position; the Sun; the Moon; meteors, meteorites, tektites, comets; interplanetary dust and asteroids; the planets; stars; star clusters; the Galaxy; external galaxies; relativity; cosmology; abundances of elements; cosmic, gamma and X-ray astronomy. Each entry provides complete information on a given publication (title, date, place and authors) and, excluding the entries on reference media and catalogues, a brief annotation concerning the scope, form, subject or level of that publication. There are good author and subject indexes and a particularly useful glossary of abbreviations common to astonomical literature. The book will be of immense help to astronomers and is a very welcome addition to the literature. K. L. BELL
BOOK REVIEWS J. 0. THOMASand B. J. LANDMARK(Editors): Plasma Waves in Space and Laboratory, Vol. 2. Edinburgh University Press, 1970. vi + 562 pp. f7.0.0.
PLASMAPhysics in space has developed along separate lines from laboratory plasma physics and the N.A.T.O. Advanced Study Institute at Roros, Norway, in April 1968 was an attempt to bridge the gap. Part of the proceedings has now been published. The basic introductory and review papers were presented in Volume 1, and Volume 2 contains some of the research papers on topics already introduced in Volume 1. This book should be very useful to someone in one branch of plasma waves wishing to become acquainted with work in the other branch, and it contains some important original papers. However, the delay in publication has reduced its usefulness as an up to date guide to the literature and of the 400 references more than 75 per cent are pre-1967. Unfortunately, the publishers have presented the proceedings in a textbook format and the papers are printed without abstracts, although we do gain the bonus of an index. The 35 papers are grouped under the following heading: 1. Experimental observations of plasma resonances in space, 2. Theoretical interpretation of plasma resonances, 3. Laboratory plasma wave experiments, 4. Laboratory experiments with antennas in plasmas, 5. VLF phenomena, experimental observations, 6. Theoretical interpretation of VLF emissions. These topics are treated at an advanced level and the beginner in plasma physics would need first to read an introductory text or volume 1. No astrophysical plasmas are included, and the only space plasmas considered are those observed by satellites such as Aloutte I and II and Explorer XX in the inner magnetosphere. The plasma echoes observed by these satellites are one of the major topics of this book and it is a pity that no discussion is included to help the reader resolve the differences between the half dozen different explanations given. The sections on VLF phenomena are concerned with the proton and helium ion gyro resonances, the lower hybrid resonance, the resonant effects of waves on velocity distributions, the growth of waves, and wave propagation in the presence of density gradients. The book is bound in a hard cover and is very liberally illustrated with graphs. P. D. HUDSON
D. A. KEMP (Author); C. K. Mooas and K. J. SPENCER(Series Editors): Astronomy anddstrophysics, A Bibliographical Guide. MacDonald and Co., London, 1970. xxiii + 584 pp. f10. THIS book is a guide to astronomical literature. The author has listed, in 75 sections (containing 3642 entries), important books, review articles, major papers in periodicals and report literature together with information on bibliographies and abstract services. The sections may be summarized as follows: reference media; star catalogues, ephemerides, etc.; optics; techniques; atomic and molecular spectroscopy; radio astronomy; radiative transfer; plasma physics; astronomy of position; the Sun; the Moon; meteors, meteorites, tektites, comets; interplanetary dust and asteroids; the planets; stars; star clusters; the Galaxy; external galaxies; relativity; cosmology; abundances of elements; cosmic, gamma and X-ray astronomy. Each entry provides complete information on a given publication (title, date, place and authors) and, excluding the entries on reference media and catalogues, a brief annotation concerning the scope, form, subject or level of that publication. There are good author and subject indexes and a particularly useful glossary of abbreviations common to astonomical literature. The book will be of immense help to astronomers and is a very welcome addition to the literature. K. L. BELL