A review of transport theory

Abstract

The acceleration of particles in a plasma should be governed by a transport equation that describes how the particles are transported in space and in energy. A complete equation would describe all possible ways in which particles can exchange energy and momentum with the plasma in which they are embedded. Such equations have been developed through the years and today represent most of the processes thought to be important in the acceleration of particles in astrophysical plasmas. We shall discuss how these equations are derived and how the various terms relate to the modes of energy exchange between the particles and plasma.