Black hole astrophysics : the engine paradigm / David L. Meier.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Meier, David L.

Series:

Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, 2366-0082

Springer Praxis books in astronomy and planetary sciences

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Black holes (Astronomy).

Astrophysics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (940 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2012.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : Springer, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

As a result of significant research over the past 20 years, black holes are now linked to some of the most spectacular and exciting phenomena in the Universe, ranging in size from those that have the same mass as stars to the super-massive objects that lie at the heart of most galaxies, including our own Milky Way. This book first introduces the properties of simple isolated holes, then adds in complications like rotation, accretion, radiation, and magnetic fields, finally arriving at a basic understanding of how these immense engines work. Black Hole Astrophysics • reviews our current knowledge of cosmic black holes and how they generate the most powerful observed phenomena in the Universe; • highlights the latest, most up-to-date theories and discoveries in this very active area of astrophysical research; • demonstrates why we believe that black holes are responsible for important phenomena such as quasars, microquasars and gammaray bursts; • explains to the reader the nature of the violent and spectacular outflows (winds and jets) generated by black hole accretion.

Contents:

Part I Observations of Black Hole Engines

Recognizing Black Holes

Macroquasars: Supermassive Black Holes in the Centers of Galaxies

Microquasars: Black holes (and Neutron Stars) of Stellar Mass in Our Galaxy

Miniquasars: Elusive Black Holes of Intermediate Mass

Part II Physics of Black Hole Engines

Physics in Everyday Life: A Review of Newtonian Mechanics

Geometry and Physics Without Gravity: Special Relativity

Physics in Curved Spacetime: General Relativity and Black Holes

Four-Dimensional Evolving Geometry: Gravitational Waves and Gravitational Collapse

Nuts and Bolts of the Black Hole Engine: General Relativistic Mechanics

Part III Astrophysics of Black Hole Engines

Assembling the Engine Block: Formation of Black Holes in the Universe

Fueling and Carburetion: Breakup and Accretion of Stars and Gas Clouds

The Combustion Chamber: Energy Generation by Gravitational Accretion

The Thermal Exhaust System: Radiation and Thermally-Driven Winds

The Non-Thermal Exhaust System I. Rotating Magnetospheres: The Fan that Drives the Turbo-Exhaust System

The Non-Thermal Exhaust System II. Magnetic Winds and Jets

Putting it All Together: Black Hole Engines of All Sizes.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9783642019364

3642019366

OCLC:

805146088