An invitation to astrophysics / Thanu Padmanabhan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Padmanabhan, T. (Thanu), 1957-

Series:

World Scientific series in astronomy and astrophysics ; v. 8.

World Scientific series in astronomy and astrophysics ; v. 8

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astrophysics.

Cosmology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (383 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Hackensack, N.J. : World Scientific, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This unique book provides a clear and lucid description of several aspects of astrophysics and cosmology in a language understandable to a physicist or beginner in astrophysics. It presents the key topics in all branches of astrophysics and cosmology in a simple and concise language. The emphasis is on currently active research areas and exciting new frontiers rather than on more pedantic topics. Many complicated results are introduced with simple, novel derivations which strengthen the conceptual understanding of the subject. The book also contains over one hundred exercises which will help

Contents:

Contents ; Preface ; Prologue ; 1 Gravitation ; 1.1 Orbits in Newtonian gravity ; 1.2 Precession and tides ; 1.3 Virial theorem ; 1.4 Gravitational collisions and relaxation ; 1.5 Relativistic gravity ; 1.6 Gravitational lensing ; 2 Radiative Processes

2.1 The origin of radiation 2.1.1 Radiation in classical theory ; 2.1.2 Radiation in quantum theory ; 2.2 Thermal radiation ; 2.3 Monochromatic plane wave ; 2.4 Astrophysical radiative processes ; 2.4.1 Thermal bremsstrahlung ; 2.4.2 Synchrotron radiation

2.4.3 Inverse Compton scattering 2.5 Radiative processes in quantum theory ; 2.5.1 Energy levels ; 2.5.2 Transition rates and cross sections ; 2.5.3 Ionisation and recombination ; 2.5.4 Spectral line profiles ; 3 Matter ; 3.1 Equations of state

3.2 Self-gravitating barotropic fluids 3.3 Flows of matter ; 3.3.1 Spherical accretion ; 3.3.2 Accretion disks ; 3.3.3 Shock waves and explosions ; 3.3.4 Turbulence ; 3.4 Basic plasma physics ; 3.4.1 Ionisation equilibrium of plasma ; 3.4.2 Electromagnetic fields in plasma

4 Stars and Stellar Evolution 4.1 When is gravity important? ; 4.2 Stellar magnitudes and colours ; 4.3 Modeling stellar structure ; 4.4 The Sun as a star ; 4.5 Overview of stellar evolution ; 4.5.1 Formation of a main sequence star ; 4.5.2 Life history of a star ; 5 Relics of Stars

5.1 Supernova remnants

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 353-355) and index.

ISBN:

9786611919436

9781281919434

1281919438

9789812774378

9812774378

OCLC:

820942730