An Introduction to Radiative Transfer
Methods and Applications in Astrophysics

This 2001 book presents the methodologies used by astrophysicists for solving the radiative transfer equation.

Annamaneni Peraiah (Author)

9780521779890, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 15 November 2001

496 pages, 102 b/w illus. 4 tables
24.4 x 17 x 2.5 cm, 0.78 kg

'It will find applications in advanced undergraduate or postgraduate astrophysics courses, and provide an essential reference in every astronomy library.' C. Simon Jeffery, The Observatory

Astrophysicists have developed several very different methodologies for solving the radiative transfer equation. An Introduction to Radiative Transfer presents these techniques as applied to stellar atmospheres, planetary nebulae, supernovae, and other objects with similar geometrical and physical conditions. Accurate methods, fast methods, probabilistic methods and approximate methods are all explained, including the latest and most advanced techniques. The book includes the different techniques used for computing line profiles, polarization due to resonance line scattering, polarization in magnetic media and similar phenomena. Exercises at the end of each chapter enable these methods to be put into practice, and enhance understanding of the subject. This 2001 book will be valuable to graduates, postgraduates and researchers in astrophysics.

Preface
1. Definitions of fundamental quantities of the radiation field
2. The equation of radiative transfer
3. Methods of solution of transfer equation
4. Two-point boundary problems
5. Principle of Invariance
6. Discrete space theory
7. Transfer equation in moving media: the observer frame
8. Radiative transfer equation in the comoving frame
9. Escape probability methods
10. Operator perturbation methods
11. Polarization
12. Polarization in magnetic media
13. Multi-dimensional radiative transfer.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB]