Astrophysics Processes
The Physics of Astronomical Phenomena

This book bridges the gap between physics and astronomy texts for undergraduate and graduate students.

Hale Bradt (Author)

9780521846561, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 September 2008

534 pages
25.3 x 17.9 x 2.9 cm, 1.2 kg

Review of Astronomy Methods, also by Hale Bradt: '… a brilliant addition to the pedagogy. It is timely, focused, well written, and at the appropriate level … Astronomy Methods will be useful to all students of astronomy and astrophysics, irrespective of whether they intend to specialize in observational astronomy. The material can be adapted easily for various related courses, which makes the book even more valuable.' Physics Today

Bridging the gap between physics and astronomy textbooks, this book provides step-by-step physical and mathematical development of fundamental astrophysical processes underlying a wide range of phenomena in stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy. The book has been written for upper-level undergraduates and beginning graduate students, and its strong pedagogy ensures solid mastery of each process and application. It contains over 150 tutorial figures, numerous examples of astronomical measurements, and 201 exercises. Topics covered include the Kepler–Newton problem, stellar structure, binary evolution, radiation processes, special relativity in astronomy, radio propagation in the interstellar medium, and gravitational lensing. Applications presented include Jeans length, Eddington luminosity, the cooling of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect, Doppler boosting in jets, and determinations of the Hubble constant. This text is a stepping stone to more specialized books and primary literature. Password-protected solutions to the exercises are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9780521846561.

Preface
1. Kepler, Newton, and the mass function
2. Equilibrium in stars
3. Equations of state
4. Stellar structure and evolution
5. Thermal bremsstrahlung radiation
6. Blackbody radiation
7. Special theory of relativity in astronomy
8. Synchrotron radiation
9. Compton scattering
10. Hydrogen spin-flip radiation
11. Dispersion and Faraday rotation
12. Gravitational lensing
References
Acronyms
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Astronomy, space & time [PG]