Introduction to High-Energy Astrophysics

Self-contained, relevant 2007 textbook on high-energy astrophysics for undergraduate students.

Stephan Rosswog (Author), Marcus Brüggen (Author)

9780521674423, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 3 March 2011

366 pages
24.4 x 17 x 2 cm, 0.64 kg

Review of the hardback: 'It should not be missing from any library.' Sterne und Weltraum

High-energy astrophysics covers cosmic phenomena that occur under the most extreme physical conditions. It explores the most violent events in the Universe: the explosion of stars, matter falling into black holes, and gamma-ray bursts - the most luminous explosions since the Big Bang. Driven by a wealth of observations, there has been a large leap forward in our understanding of these phenomena. Exploring modern topics of high-energy astrophysics, such as supernovae, neutron stars, compact binary systems, gamma-ray bursts, and active galactic nuclei, this 2007 textbook is ideal for undergraduate students in high-energy astrophysics. It is a self-contained, relevant overview of this exciting field of research. Assuming a familiarity with basic physics, it introduces all other concepts, such as gas dynamics or radiation processes, in an instructive way. An extended appendix gives an overview of some of the most important high-energy astrophysics instruments, and each chapter ends with exercises.

Preface
1. Special relativity
2. Gas processes
3. Radiation processes
4. Supernovae
5. Neutron stars, pulsars and magnetars
6. Compact binary systems
7. Gamma-ray bursts
8. Active galactic nuclei
Appendix A. Some recent high-energy astrophysics instruments
Appendix B. Physical constants
Appendix C. Distances
Appendix D. Luminosity, brightness, magnitude, colour
Index.

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