Astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics

Over the course of roughly a decade, from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, Chandraskhar made fundamental contributions to basic plasma physics, and the effect of magnetic fields on the dynamics of astrophysical plasmas. This paper reviews recent progress and outstanding problems in Astrophysical magnetohydrody-namics, the application of MHD to astrophysical systems, with particular emphasis on the role of Chandra's early contributions to the field. Specific topics discussed include magnetic field amplification by dynamo processes inside stars, the magnetorotational instability and angular momentum transport in accretion disks, MHD turbulence in the interstellar medium of galaxies, and kinetic MHD effects in weakly collisional plasmas. Chandra's contributions in all of these areas endure.