Fundamentals of Astrophysics

Designed for one-semester astrophysics courses, this well-received textbook is aimed at students with college-level calculus-based physics.

Presenting a concise overview of astrophysical concepts, the second edition of this textbook bridges the gap between introductory astronomy books and advanced astrophysics texts. Designed for one-semester astrophysics courses, the textbook is aimed at science and engineering students with college-level calculus-based physics. The new edition features both revisions and additions, with the extension of topics such as luminosity distance and the inclusion of notable developments such as the James Webb and Roman Space Telescopes. As before, the chapters are organized into five parts, covering: stellar properties; stellar structure and evolution; the interstellar medium and star/planet formation; our Milky Way and other galaxies; and cosmology. The exposition guides students toward a comprehensive fundamental understanding, using 'Quick Questions' to spur practice in basic computations, and multi-part exercises that offer a greater challenge. The solutions to the questions are freely accessible online, with exercise solutions and lecture slides available for instructors.

Autorentext
Stan Owocki is an Emeritus Professor within the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Delaware. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1982 and had post-doctoral positions at Harvard University and University of California, San Diego before joining the faculty at U. Delaware in 1987. Co-author of more than 300 scientific papers, his research focuses on mass loss from luminous, massive stars. He has extensive experience of teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with his flagship Fundamentals of Astrophysics course laying the foundation for this text.

Klappentext

Designed for one-semester astrophysics courses, the second edition of this textbook is aimed at science and engineering students with college-level calculus-based physics. Bridging the gap between basic astronomy books and advanced astrophysics texts, it offers an overview of stars, exoplanets, the interstellar medium, galaxies, and cosmology.

Inhalt

Part I. Stellar Properties: 1. Introduction; 2. Astronomical distances; 3. Stellar luminosity; 4. Surface temperature from a star's color; 5. Stellar radius from luminosity and temperature; 6. Composition and ionization from stellar spectra; 7. Surface gravity and escape/orbital speed; 8. Stellar ages and lifetimes; 9. Stellar space velocities; 10. Using binary systems to determine masses and radii; 11. Stellar rotation; 12. Light intensity and absorption; 13. Observational methods; 14. Our Sun; Part II. Stellar Structure and Evolution: 15. Hydrostatic balance between pressure and gravity; 16. Transport of radiation from interior to surface; 17. Structure of radiative versus convective stellar envelopes; 18. Hydrogen fusion and the mass range of stars; 19. Post-main-sequence evolution: low-mass stars; 20. Post-main-sequence evolution: high-mass stars; Part III. Interstellar Medium and Formation of Stars and Planets: 21. The interstellar medium; 22. Star formation; 23. Origin of planetary systems; 24. Water planet Earth; 25. Extra-solar planets; Part IV. Our Milky Way and Other Galaxies; 26. Our Milky Way galaxy; 27. External galaxies; 28. Active galactic nuclei and quasars; 29. Large-scale structure and galaxy formation and evolution; Part V. Cosmology: 30. Newtonian dynamical model of universe expansion; 31. Accelerating universe with a cosmological constant; 32. The hot Big Bang; 33. Eras in the evolution of the universe; Appendices; Index.