Introduction to plasma physics with application to magnetic fusion energy.

The objective of the course is to present the fundamental ideas underlying the behavior of fully ionized plasmas, and to provide a quantitative understanding of the physical principles at the basis of the magnetic confinement of high-temperature plasmas, focusing on the peculiarities of the tokamak device.
The student is expected to describe qualitatively and mathematically the behavior of fully ionized plasmas, magnetized and non, and to understand the main physical aspects of the tokamak approach to controlled fusion. The student will become familiar with the computer codes used to model tokamak plasma discharges and to assist experimental operations.