Astrophysics: Decoding the Stars

Astrophysics: Decoding the Stars is a balanced textbook that presents the theory and observations of stars and their evolution, emphasizing the close connection between observation and theory. It includes online resources and problems and covers topics such as the Sun, stellar interiors, energy transport mechanisms, stellar remnants, and evolutionary tracks. It is a valuable resource for second- to fourth-year undergraduate students pursuing an Astrophysics program, as well as Physics undergraduates who have opted to take stellar structure and evolution as part of their program, and new graduate students who want a solid grounding in stellar astrophysics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2023
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Astrophysics: Decoding the Stars is a comprehensive textbook that delves into the theory and observations of stars, providing a foundational understanding of this crucial field. Authored by Professor Judith Irwin, a renowned astrophysicist and educator, this companion volume complements Astrophysics: Decoding the Cosmos. The text offers an accessible and student-friendly guide to the key theories and principles of stars, emphasizing the close interplay between observation and theory.

To enhance reader comprehension, the book incorporates online resources and problems at the end of each chapter. Numerous highlighted boxes summarize essential concepts or direct readers to example stars visible to the naked eye. While the text primarily focuses on physical concepts, it also refers to the results of numerical models accessible through online resources.

Astrophysics: Decoding the Stars covers a wide range of topics, including:

The Sun: A detailed examination of the Sun, its gaseous and radiative processes, and its role in the energy budget of the universe.

Stellar Interiors: An exploration of stellar interiors, focusing on energy transport mechanisms, stellar cores, nuclear energy generation, and the global energy budget.

Stellar Cores and Nuclear Energy Generation: A detailed examination of stellar cores, including their structure, composition, and the processes that drive nuclear energy generation.

Global Energy Budget: A discussion of the balance between energy input and output in stars, including the role of radiation, convection, and magnetic fields.

Timescales and Stability: An analysis of the timescales involved in stellar evolution, including the formation, lifecycles, and eventual fate of stars.

Observational Constraints: An exploration of the observational constraints on stellar properties and evolution, including the use of telescopes, spectroscopy, and other observational techniques.

Variable Stars: A study of variable stars, including their characteristics, classification, and the mechanisms that drive their variability.

Star Formation from Molecular Clouds to the ZAMS: A comprehensive overview of the process of star formation, from the formation of molecular clouds to the formation of stars in the ZAMS (Zero Age Main Sequence).

Evolutionary Tracks on the HR Diagram: A detailed examination of the evolutionary tracks on the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram for stars of different masses, shedding light on their lifecycles and eventual fate.

Stellar Remnants: An exploration of stellar remnants, including white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes, and their role in the final stages of stellar evolution.

Astrophysics: Decoding the Stars is an invaluable textbook resource for second- to fourth-year undergraduate students pursuing an Astrophysics program, as well as Physics undergraduates who have chosen to specialize in stellar structure and evolution as part of their curriculum. It is also highly beneficial for new graduate students seeking a solid foundation in stellar astrophysics.

In summary, Astrophysics: Decoding the Stars is a comprehensive and accessible textbook that provides a thorough exploration of the theory and observations of stars, offering students a solid foundation in stellar astrophysics. Whether you are a student, researcher, or enthusiast, this book is an essential resource for deepening your understanding of the cosmos.

Weight: 916g
Dimension: 185 x 264 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119623557