Buch, Englisch, 446 Seiten, Format (B × H): 167 mm x 244 mm, Gewicht: 859 g
ISBN: 978-0-470-01306-9
Verlag: Wiley-Blackwell
* an accessible student-friendly guide to the key theories and principles of astrophysics
* includes numerous illustrations, examples and end-of-chapter problems to enhance student understanding
* focuses on the 'how' of astronomy- how densities, temperatures, masses and energies are actually determined
* a 'tool chest' for undergraduate astronomers providing key background information to the subject
* describes the physics first, then moves on to provide examples of the theory in practice
This book will be invaluable for students taking courses in astrophysics, physics and astronomy and will also be a useful reference for graduate students looking for an overview of the subject.
Autoren/Hrsg.
Fachgebiete
Weitere Infos & Material
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
Appendix: dimensions, units and equations.
PART I THE SIGNAL OBSERVED.
1 Defining the signal.
1.1 The power of light - luminosity and spectral power.
1.2 Light through a surface - flux and flux density.
1.3 The brightness of light - intensity and specific intensity.
1.4 Light from all angles - energy density and mean intensity.
1.5 How light pushes - radiation pressure.
1.6 The human perception of light - magnitudes.
1.7 Light aligned - polarization.
Problems.
2 Measuring the signal.
2.1 Spectral filters and the panchromatic universe.
2.2 Catching the signal - the telescope.
2.3 The Corrupted signal - the atmosphere.
2.4 Processing the signal.
2.5 Analysing the signal.
2.6 Visualizing the signal.
Problems.
Appendix: refraction in the Earth's atmosphere.
PART II MATTER AND RADIATION ESSENTIALS.
3 Matter essentials.
3.1 The Big Bang.
3.2 Dark and light matter.
3.3 Abundances of the elements.
3.4 The gaseous universe.
3.5 The dusty Universe.
3.6 Cosmic rays.
Problems.
Appendix: the electron/proton ratio in cosmic rays.
4 Radiation essentials.
4.1 Black body radiation.
4.2 Grey bodies and planetary temperatures.
Problems.
Appendix: derivation of the Planck function.
4.A.1 The statistical weight.
4.A.2 The mean energy per state.
4.A.3 The specific energy density and specific intensity.
PART III THE SIGNAL PERTURBED.
5 The interaction of light with matter.
5.1 The photon redirected - scattering.
5.2 The photon lost - absorption.
5.3 The wavefront redirected - refraction.
5.4 Quantifying opacity and transparency.
5.5 The opacity of dust - extinction.
Problems.
6 The signal transferred.
6.1 Types of energy transfer.
6.2 The equation of transfer.
6.3 Solutions to the equation of transfer.
6.4 Implications of the LTE solution.
Problems.
7 The interaction of light with space.
7.1 Space and time.
7.2 Redshifts and blueshifts.
7.3 Gravitational refraction.
7.4 Time variability and source size.
Problems.
PART IV THE SIGNAL EMITTED.
8 Continuum emission.
8.1 Characteristics of continuum emission - thermal and non-thermal.
8.2 Bremsstrahlung (free-free) emission.
8.3 Free-bound (recombination) emission.
8.4 Two-photon emission.
8.5 Synchrotron (and cyclotron) radiation.
8.6 Inverse Compton radiation.
Problems.
9 Line emission.
9.1 The richness of the spectrum - radio waves to gamma rays.
9.2 The line strengths, thermalization, and the critical gas density.
9.3 Line broadening.
9.4 Probing physical conditions via electronic transitions.
9.5 Probing physical conditions via molecular transitions.
Problems.
PART V THE SIGNAL DECODED.
10 Forensic astronomy.
10.1 Complex spectra.
10.2 Case studies - the active, the young, and the old.
10.3 The messenger and the message.
Problems.
Appendix A: Mathematical and geometrical relations.
A.1 Taylor series.
A.2 Binomial expansion.
A.3 Exponential expansion.
A.4 Convolution.
A.5 Properties of the ellipse.
Appendix B: Astronomical geometry.
B.1 One-dimensional and two-dimensional angles.
B.2 Solid angle and the spherical coordinate system.
Appendix C: The hydrogen atom.
C.1 The hydrogen spectrum and principal quantum number.
C.2 Quantum numbers, degeneracy, and statistical weight.
C.3 Fine structure and the Zeeman effect.
C.4 The l 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen.
Appendix D: Scattering processes.
D.1 Elastic, or coherent scattering.
D.2 Inelastic scattering - Compton scattering from free electrons.
D.3 Scattering by dust.
Appendix E: Plasmas, the plasma frequency, and plasma waves.
Appendix F: The Hubble relation and the expanding Universe.
F.1 Kinematics of the Universe.
F.2 Dynamics of the Universe.
F.3 Kinematics, dynamics and high redshifts.
Appendix G: Tables and Figures.
References.
Index.
