Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics: Volume 3

This book is the final one in a series of three texts which together provide a modern, complete and authoritative account of our present knowledge of the stars. It discusses the internal structure and the evolution of stars, and is completely self-contained.

Erika Böhm-Vitense (Author)

9780521348713, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 16 January 1992

304 pages, 123 b/w illus. 10 tables
24.6 x 17.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.55 kg

This book is the final one in a series of three texts which together provide a modern, complete and authoritative account of our present knowledge of the stars. It discusses the internal structure and the evolution of stars, and is completely self-contained. There is an emphasis on the basic physics governing stellar structure and the basic ideas on which our understanding of stellar structure is based. The book also provides a comprehensive discussion of stellar evolution. Careful comparison is made between theory and observation, and the author has thus provided a lucid and balanced introductory text for the student. As for volumes 1 and 2, volume 3 is self-contained and can be used as an independent textbook. The author has not only taught but has also published many original papers in this subject. Her clear and readable style should make this text a first choice for undergraduate and beginning graduate students taking courses in astronomy and particularly in stellar astrophysics.

Introduction
Hydrostatic equilibrium
Thermal equilibrium
The opacities
Convective instability
Theory of convective energy transport
Depths of outer convection zones
Energy generation in stars
Basic stellar structure equations
Homologous stars in radiative equilibrium
Influence of convection zones on stellar structure
Calculation of stellar models
Models for main sequence stars
Evolution of low mass stars
Evolution of massive stars
Late stages of stellar evolution
Observational tests of stellar evolution theory
Pulsating stars
The cepheid mass problem
Star formation
Problems
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB]