Cosmology and Astrophysics through Problems

An innovative textbook that provides a unique approach to beginning research in cosmology and high energy astrophysics through a series of problems and answers.

T. Padmanabhan (Author)

9780521467834, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 September 1996

516 pages, 33 b/w illus. 3 tables 145 exercises
23.4 x 18.8 x 3 cm, 0.88 kg

Reviews from Padmanabhan's previous book: 'Padmanabhan has written an invaluable exposition from first physical principles of almost all the things that a new graduate student embarking upon research in theoretical cosmology needs to know … Overall I found Padmanabhan's book to be an extremely useful working text.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

Modern cosmology and high energy astrophysics have become interdisciplinary research subjects and new graduate students are now expected to assimilate a broad range of physical concepts. This innovative book provides a clear and pedagogical introduction to research in these areas through a series of problems and answers. The problems are designed to develop each core topic in a simple and coherent way and full solutions are provided to make this book completely self-contained. The first half of the book covers the core subjects of astrophysical processes, gravitational dynamics, radiative processes, fluid mechanics and general relativity. The second half uses these concepts to develop modern cosmology: topics include the Friedmann model and thermal history, dynamics of dark matter and baryons in an expanding universe, physics of high-redshift objects and the very early universe. This unique self-study textbook will be of key interest to graduate students and researchers in cosmology, astrophysics, relativity and theoretical physics. It is particularly well suited to graduate-level courses.

Preface
'How to use this book'
Part I. 1. Astrophysical processes
2. Dynamics and gravity
3. Fluid mechanics
4. Radiation processes
5. General relativity
Part II. 6. Friedmann model and thermal history
7. Dynamics in the expanding universe
8. Structure formation
9. High redshift objects
10. Very early universe
11. Advanced problems
Useful constants
Notes and references
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Cosmology & the universe [PGK], Applied mathematics [PBW]