MTH4343 Magnetohydrodynamics and visualisation of scientific data
Faculty of Science
MTH4343 Magnetohydrodynamics and visualisation of scientific data is a level 4, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Science. It isn't offered in 2025. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Not offered
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 1 other task
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2026 entry.
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Requisites
Before MTH4343
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After MTH4343
No unit lists MTH4343 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit briefly discusses plasma physics, covering single particle motion and kinetic plasma theory, and then introduces the fluid description to derive the equations of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). It then explores basic MHD, including ideal and dissipative MHD, magnetic hydrostatics, and MHD waves. A detailed spectral theory of MHD waves is developed. Applications will be made to solar structures and observations.
Stability and dynamics of solar features from the photosphere to corona will be analysed/simulated. These studies will be accompanied by the state-of-art visualisation techniques such as Python VTK, Mayavi and Paraview. Algorithms and ODE/PDE solvers to allow for Interactive MHD Visualisation will be an essential part of our tasks.
Offerings in 2025
The 2025 handbook lists no offerings for MTH4343.
Assessment
- Continuous assessmentDemonstration50%
- Final assessment - Exam (3 hours and 10 minutes)Examination50%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Develop advanced knowledge of the terms in the governing equations of kinetic and fluid theories.
- 2
Identify the MHD equations and derive the associated mass and momentum conservation equations
- 3
Identify the terms in the MHD version of Ohm's Law and use the equation to explain convection electric fields and frozen-in magnetic fields
- 4
Demonstrate expert knowledge on magnetic pressure and tension forces
- 5
Derive the dispersion equation for the basic MHD wave modes and describe their properties, such as propagation of magnetohydrodynamic waves
- 6
Show using simple examples of how this system of equations can be applied to different astrophysical and laboratory phenomena.
- 7
Reach a high level of achievement in writing and presenting sophisticated visualisation methods of computational visualisation
- 8
Communicate complex information on waves and MHD theory with the use of visualisation methods.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars36 hours
- Applied sessions12 hours
- Three hours of seminars;
- One hour applied class and
- Eight hours independent study per week.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Paul Cally
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Paul Cally
- Dr Alina Donea
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTH4343?
MTH4343 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MTH4343 offered?
MTH4343 has no offerings listed in the 2025 handbook.
Does MTH4343 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.