This book provides a broad introduction to the kinetic theory of space plasma physics with the major focus on the inner magnetospheric plasma. It is designed to provide a comprehensive description of the different kinds of transport equations for both plasma particles and waves with an emphasis on the applicability and limitations of each set of equations. The major topics are: Kinetic Theory of Superthermal Electrons, Kinetic Foundation of the Hydrodynamic Description of Space Plasmas (including wave-particle interaction processes), and Kinetic Theory of the Terrestrial Ring Current. Distinguishable features of this book are the analytical solutions of simplified transport equations. Approximate analytic solutions of transport phenomena are very useful because they help us gain physical insight into how the system responds to varying sources of mass, momentum and energy and also to various external boundary conditions. They also provide us a convenient method to test the validity of complicated numerical models, a task that is usually tedious and time consuming. This book will provide students and space researchers with an understanding of how to determine the best approach to any upper atmospheric or space physics problem.

Dr. George V. Khazanov is a senior scientist in the Heliosphysics Science Division at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Prior to joining NASA, he was a Tenured Professor of Physics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Khazanov has extensive experience in space plasma physics and simulation of geophysical plasmas. His specific research areas include: space plasma energization and transport, kinetic theory of superthermal electrons in the ionosphere and plasmasphere, hydrodynamic and kinetic theory of space plasma in the presence of wave activity, theoretical and numerical-modeling investigations of ionosphere-plasmasphere interactions, theoretical studies of the artificial injection of charged and neutral particles into the ionosphere, and wave and beam-induced plasma instabilities in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Dr. Khazanov was the Dean of the College of Physics, and the Theoretical Physics Department Chair at Altai State University, Russia; Director of the Ionospheric Plasma Physics Laboratory at Irkutsk State University, Russia. He supervised and directed more than 30 M.S. and 15 Ph.D. graduates. He is the author or coauthor of 6 books and about 250 peer reviewed publications.

Preface.- Introduction.- Kinetic Equations and Particle Collisions.- General Description of Wave Particle Interaction Phenomena.- Hydrodynamic Description of Space Plasma.- Analysis of Superthermal Electron Transport.- Analysis of Cold Plasma Transport.- Kinetic Theory of Superthermal Electron Transport.- Kinetic Superthermal Electron Instabilities in the Ionosphere.- Kinetic Theory of Ring Current and Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves: Fundamentals.- Kinetic Theory of Ring Current and Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves: Applications.- Concluding Remarks.