Plasma Physics for Astrophysics

"Russell Kulsrud has written an outstanding text that should raise the appreciation of plasma astrophysics within the general astronomy community at a time when the influence of plasma processes on what we observe is recognized to be of paramount importance."--Roger D. Blandford, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University

"Perhaps the most important feature of this book is its pedagogical approach: its emphasis of physical understanding over detailed mathematics. Simple estimates and examples are given instead of rigorous derivations (rigorous results are then quoted). The writing is colloquial and accessible. This is an excellent approach, and it helps demystify a complex subject. Indeed, it is an approach that is lacking in many existing texts in the field."--Eliot Quataert, University of California, Berkeley