This textbook highlights mechanisms, properties, observations, and research progress of solar and stellar rotation. The rotation of stars is a basic parameter that enters into the dynamo mechanisms that generates stellar activity. The faster stars rotate the higher stellar activity. Moreover, the rotation can also be used to determine stellar ages. Only in the case of the Sun we can directly observe details and therefore determine, e.g., the differential rotation. Thus, the Sun is a prototype for studying other stars. The textbook presents techniques that enable to determine rotation on stars and give a comparison of how stars rotate according to their spectral type and evolution. Special cases are given such as rapidly rotating stars that are strongly deformed into ellipsoids. The textbook is intended for professionals and students in Astrophysicists as well as readers interested in science in general.

Combines introduction to the subject with recent literature and state-of-the-art research Presents detailed observation of stars at different evolutionary states and ages Includes many illustrations to make the topics easy to understand

Autorentext

Dr. Roman Braja (1963) works as astrophysicist at Hvar Observatory, Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His current position is Tenured Scientific Advisor. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics and was also Head of Hvar Observatory and President of Croatian Astronomical Society. Dr. Arnold Hanslmeier (1959) works as Professor of computational astrophysics at the Institute of Physics of the University of Graz in Austria. He was also Head of the Department of Astrophysics (IGAM) and Head of the Institute of Astronomy and Institute of Physics. He is also member of the University of Vienna as a lecturer.

Inhalt

Stars - Fundamentals of Their Physics.- Formation of Stars.- Stellar Rotation - How to Observe it.- Stellar Rotation Along the HR-diagram.- Stellar Dynamos.- Stellar Rotation and Stellar Activity.- Rotational Properties of Compact Objects.