Astrophysics Books
Princeton University Press Galactic Dynamics
Book SynopsisOffers an introduction to galactic astrophysics to advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers. This book covers topics including N-body simulation methods, black holes in stellar systems, linear stability and response theory, and galaxy formation in the cosmological context.Trade ReviewJames Binney, Winner of the 2013 Eddington Medal, Royal Astronomical Society "All astronomers and dynamicists should acquire and read this impressive book. It is both readable and rigorous: destined to become a classic landmark in the subject."--Times Higher Education Supplement "[T]his book has no peers."--Nature "[The] material is covered with care, rigor, and exemplary clarity; there is nothing obscure, sloppy, or superficial. The authors are, moreover, careful to make clear the limits of present knowledge, and to point out where conclusions cannot yet be drawn... I expect it to stand as a classic reference for many years to come."--Richard B. Larson, American Scientist "Binney and Tremaine have done a major service to astronomers and physicists alike by producing a magnificent book that will make this fascinating subject much more accessible. This is undoubtedly the best book from which to learn the subject."--Donald Lynden-Bell, Physics Today "[A]n excellent book--big and fat, and containing everything you ever wanted to know about stellar dynamics... This book must become a landmark in the field."--New Scientist "Do make sure that you are familiar with this volume, for you will not be disappointed. James Binney and Scott Tremaine have done the astronomical community a great service in compiling this second edition. It is a masterpiece."--Michael Perryman, Planetary and Space Science "[T]his is a great book, already evident from the fact that since its 1st edition nobody has attempted to rival it. It is an absolute must for everybody, from PhD students to senior researchers, whose studies touch upon the subject of galaxy dynamics. A great strength of this book ... lies in Binney & Tremaine's ability to explain even the most complicated of concepts and arguments in a straightforward and logical way."--Walter Dehnen, The Observatory "Grab yourself a copy of Galactic Dynamics and buckle up lads and lassies. Don't forget the protective head gear and the strong coffee--it's going to be one hell of a rough ride; but hang on there, and together we can boldly go where no man (or woman for that matter) has gone before."--Gerard Mc Mahon, Astronomy and Space Magazine "The second edition of Galactic Dynamics is a successful revision of its 1987 predecessor and will long be a reference for those working on galaxies. Astronomers teaching advanced courses in galactic dynamics will also use it widely, in part because it includes an expanded collection of interesting and demanding problems for teaching and consolidation of the wealth of material presented in the book."--Ken Freeman, Physics TodayTable of ContentsPreface xiii Chapter 1. Introduction 1 1.1 An overview of the observations 5 1.2 Collisionless systems and the relaxation time 33 The relaxation time 34 1.3 The cosmological context 37 Chapter 2. Potential Theory 55 2.1 General results 56 The potential-energy tensor 59 2.2 Spherical systems 60 2.3 Potential-density pairs for attened systems 72 2.4 Multipole expansion 78 2.5 The potentials of spheroidal and ellipsoidal systems 83 2.6 The potentials of disks 96 2.7 The potential of our Galaxy 110 2.8 Potentials from functional expansions 118 2.9 Poisson solvers for N-body codes 122 Chapter 3. The Orbits of Stars 142 3.1 Orbits in static spherical potentials 143 3.2 Orbits in axisymmetric potentials 159 3.3 Orbits in planar non-axisymmetric potentials 171 3.4 Numerical orbit integration 196 3.5 Angle-action variables 211 3.6 Slowly varying potentials 237 3.7 Perturbations and chaos 243 3.8 Orbits in elliptical galaxies 262 Chapter 4. Equilibria of Collisionless Systems 274 4.1 The collisionless Boltzmann equation 275 4.2 Jeans theorems 283 4.3 DFs for spherical systems 287 4.4 DFs for axisymmetric density distributions 312 4.5 DFs for razor-thin disks 329 4.6 Using actions as arguments of the DF 333 4.7 Particle-based and orbit-based models 338 4.8 The Jeans and virial equations 347 4.9 Stellar kinematics as a mass detector 365 4.10 The choice of equilibrium 376 Chapter 5. Stability of Collisionless Systems 394 5.1 Introduction 394 5.2 The response of homogeneous systems 401 5.3 General theory of the response of stellar systems 417 5.4 The energy principle and secular stability 423 5.5 The response of spherical systems 432 5.6 The stability of uniformly rotating systems 439 Chapter 6. Disk Dynamics and Spiral Structure 456 6.1 Fundamentals of spiral structure 458 6.2 Wave mechanics of differentially rotating disks 481 6.3 Global stability of differentially rotating disks 505 6.4 Damping and excitation of spiral structure 518 6.5 Bars 528 6.6 Warping and buckling of disks 539 Chapter 7. Kinetic Theory 554 7.1 Relaxation processes 555 7.2 General results 559 7.3 The thermodynamics of self-gravitating systems 567 7.4 The Fokker Planck approximation 573 7.5 The evolution of spherical stellar systems 596 7.6 Summary 633 Chapter 8. Collisions and Encounters of Stellar Systems 639 8.1 Dynamical friction 643 8.2 High-speed encounters 655 8.3 Tides 674 8.4 Encounters in stellar disks 685 8.5 Mergers 695 Chapter 9. Galaxy Formation 716 9.1 Linear structure formation 717 9.2 Nonlinear structure formation 733 9.3 N-body simulations of clustering 751 9.4 Star formation and feedback 760 9.5 Conclusions 765 Appendices A. Useful numbers 770 B. Mathematical background 771 C. Special functions 785 D. Mechanics 792 E. Delaunay variables for Kepler orbits 805 F. Fluid mechanics 807 G. Discrete Fourier transforms 818 H. The Antonov Lebovitz theorem 822 I. The Doremus Feix Baumann theorem 823 J. Angular-momentum transport in disks 825 K. Derivation of the reduction factor 830 L. The diffusion coefficients 833 M. The distribution of binary energies 838 References 842 Index 857
£80.00
CRC Press Astronomy
Book SynopsisDespite remarkable advances in astronomy, space research, and related technology since the first edition of this book was published, the philosophy of the prior editions has remained the same throughout. However, because of this progress, there is a need to update the information and present the new findings. In the fourth edition of Astronomy: Principles and Practice, much like the previous editions, the celebrated authors give a comprehensive and systematic treatment to the theories of astronomy.This reference furthers your study of astronomy by presenting the basic software and hardware, providing several straightforward mathematical tools, and discussing some simple physical processes that are either involved in the astronomer''s tools of trade or concerned in the mechanisms associated with astronomical bodies. The first six chapters introduce the simple observations that can be made by the eye as well as discuss how such observations were interpreted by previous civilizatiTrade Review"…The book is well organized and conveniently divided into four sections. … A feature of the text which I found particularly appealing was the almost conversational style in which it is written, … making it riveting reading. Another aspect which was striking was the manner in which the authors very successfully integrated historical and factual information. … the book provides first-year students with a solid basis on which to continue studies in astronomy or physics."-Physical Sciences Educational Reviews, Vol. 7, Issue 1, June 2006 "… the strengths of the old version have been retained … and the book has been brought up to date with, for example, the sections on CCDs and modern telescopes." - Vik Dhillon, Sheffield University, UK "Members will find themselves returning to it again and again for help with those really searching questions. A book worth considering." - Jeffrey Barham, Popular AstronomyTable of ContentsPart 1: Introduction. Part 2: The Celestial Sphere and ElementaryCelestial Mechanics. Part 3: Observational Techniques. Part 4: Experimental Work. Web Sites. Appendices. Bibliography. Answers to Problems. Index.
£56.04
Princeton University Press At the Edge of Time
Book Synopsis
£14.24
Princeton University Press Dynamics of Planetary Systems
Book Synopsis
£52.70
Princeton University Press Statistics Data Mining and Machine Learning in
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for the previous edition:"A comprehensive, accessible, well-thought-out introduction to the new and burgeoning field of astrostatistics."—Choice "A substantial work that can be of value to students and scientists interested in mining the vast amount of astronomical data collected to date. . . . If data mining and machine learning fall within your interest area, this text deserves a place on your shelf."—Planetarian"This comprehensive book is surely going to be regarded as one of the foremost texts in the new discipline of astrostatistics."—Joseph M. Hilbe, president of the International Astrostatistics Association"In the era of data-driven science, many students and researchers have faced a barrier to entry. Until now, they have lacked an effective tutorial introduction to the array of tools and code for data mining and statistical analysis. The comprehensive overview of techniques provided in this book, accompanied by a Python toolbox, free readers to explore and analyze the data rather than reinvent the wheel."—Tony Tyson, University of California, Davis"The authors are leading experts in the field who have utilized the techniques described here in their own very successful research. Statistics, Data Mining, and Machine Learning in Astronomy is a book that will become a key resource for the astronomy community."—Robert J. Hanisch, Space Telescope Science Institute
£66.30
Princeton University Press The Little Book of Cosmology
Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of BBC Science Focus Magazine's Best Books of 2020""A nice little book for those who have some knowledge of the subject."---Laura Nuttall, BBC Sky at Night Magazine"This ranks alongside Steven Weinberg’s The First Three Minutes as the best book on cosmology I have read. A compact treasure-trove of cosmic insights to be read, mulled over, and read again."---Marcus Chown, BBC Science Focus Magazine"[An] enthusiastic and approachable survey of the state of cosmology today. . . . It’s got to be the best, most up-to-date, “little” introduction to cosmology."---David Appell, Physics World"Books like this one help to perform a valuable role in making these discoveries accessible and understandable to a wider audience."---Simon Cocking, Irish Tech News"It’s no small feat, trying to describe the Universe in 152 pages. But the very aptly named Little Book of Cosmology takes this task head-on, by stripping the narrative down to its bare essentials." * Nature Astronomy *"[The Little Book of Cosmology] provides a good high-level overview of our current knowledge of cosmology, without warping spacetime or a bookshelf."---Jeff Foust, The Space Review
£16.14
Penguin Books Ltd Whats Eating the Universe
Book Synopsis''Brilliant. You won''t find a clearer, more engaging guide to what we know (or would like to know) about the universe and how it is put together'' Bill BrysonCelebrated physicist and global bestselling author Paul Davies tells the story of the universe in thirty cosmological conundrumsIn the constellation of Eridanus there lurks a cosmic mystery. It''s as if something has taken a huge bite out of the universe, leaving a super-void. What could be the culprit? A super massive black hole? Another, bigger universe? Or an expanding vacuum bubble, destined to envelop and annihilate everything in existence?Scientists now understand the history of our universe better than the history of our own planet, but they continue to uncover startling new riddles-the hole in the universe being just one. In this electrifying book, award-winning physicist Paul Davies walks us through the puzzles and paradoxes that have preoccupied cosmologists from ancient Greece to the present day. Laying bare the audacious research that has led us to mind-bending solutions, Davies reveals how we might begin to approach the greatest outstanding enigmas of all.Trade ReviewBrilliant. You won't find a clearer, more engaging guide to what we know (or would like to know) about the universe and how it is put together. -- Bill Bryson * author of The Body: A Guide for Occupants *Paul Davies gives us a thought-provoking, fascinating, and delightful journey through some of the big questions that have perplexed and tantalized scientists throughout history. These are the questions and paradoxes that have stumped and teased history's greatest minds. What happened before the beginning? What is the meaning of the universe? Are there other universes? -- Michio KakuPaul Davies brings his customary lucidity to a survey of some of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of our universe, simultaneously educating us about its vertiginous wonders and giving us a real sense of science's questions as it confronts and explores them and wrestles with their mystery. It is an absorbing and stimulating read, one of the best of its kind. -- A.C. Grayling * author of The Frontiers of Knowledge *Compelling ... Davies excels in succinctly addressing the cosmological conundrums that haven't received as much attention as dark matter, dark energy, what triggered the big bang and the fate of the universe * Forbes *A whistle-stop tour of the biggest mysteries that cosmologists are investigating today ... a fun way of making sure you're all caught up on where cosmology is at today * Physics World *What's Eating the Universe? is a veritable feast for curious minds. Davies, a polymath and lyrical writer, masterfully tackles all the big questions ranging from why this Universe to the meaning of life and the significance of the present moment-a whirlwind journey through ideas that have shaped our understanding of the cosmos and its constituents. -- Priyamvada Natarajan * author of Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos *A great introduction for readers new to physics ...Lessons in cosmology and astrophysics abound in this enthusiastic primer * Publishers Weekly *Understanding theoretical physics is a daunting task, but What's Eating the Universe?is here to guide readers through the field. Each chapter is short-less than 10 pages-but jargon-free and full of information ... Regardless of the reader's prior physics knowledge, the book provides an accessible introduction to cosmology * Physics Today *What's Eating the Universe? is Paul Davies at his very best. He brings a lifetime of experience in explaining mysteries of space and time to offer thought-provoking essays on deep questions in bite-sized, easily digestible chunks. There is no better overview of the advances made by cosmologists in recent decades. -- John Gribbin * author of Six Impossible Things: The ‘Quanta of Solace’ and the Mysteries of the Subatomic World *A delightful account of the cutting edge of modern cosmology. He is truly exceptional at explaining all of this in his inimitable style--let's say 'astropoetry' -- Simon Mitton, University of CambridgeA whistle-stop tour of the major questions in contemporary cosmology -- Philip Ball, author of Beyond Weird: Why Everything You Thought You Knew about Quantum Physics Is Different
£10.44
Oxford University Press A Modern Primer in Particle and Nuclear Physics
Book SynopsisSuitable for undergraduate and graduate physics students, this unique textbook provides an ideal entry point into particle, nuclear, and astroparticle physics and presents the modern concepts, theories, and experiments that explain the elementary constituents and basic forces of the universe.Trade ReviewIn this long-awaited, agile and modern textbook, the author takes an innovative deep approach which favours quick and unexpected connections between diverse subjects while stimulating critical thinking and further inquiry. It is a fluent, fascinating book with an exhaustive description of the most updated particle and nuclear physics state of the art. * Lucia Votano, emeritus Frascati INFN National Laboratory *Professor Terranova offers a fresh, much-needed look at the way the foundations of particle and nuclear physics are introduced to university students. This textbook exhibits a fine balance of mathematical rigour, clarity, useful examples, and completeness. It is a stimulating reading that will please the most exigent scholars. * Antonio Bueno, University of Granada *An excellent undergraduate textbook that covers many aspects of modern particle physics, including quarks and the Higgs boson, assuming only basic notions of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. An invaluable reference for any student or teacher who wants a simple but complete introduction to our current understanding of the fundamental interactions in Nature. * Alberto Zaffaroni, Milano-Bicocca University *This book is written as a captivating story of particle physics that enlightens students on the beauty of particle physics and motivates them to pursue further studies of the subject. * Alessandro Tricoli, Brookhaven National Laboratory *Table of Contents1: Setting the scene 2: Scattering and decay 3: Measurements in particle physics 4: Accelerators and colliders 5: Symmetries and antimatter 6: Electromagnetic interactions 7: The modern theory of strong interactions 8: Flavor symmetries and the quark models 9: From QCD to nuclear physics 10: Weak interactions 11: Radioactivity and cosmic engines 12: The electroweak theory 13: At the forefront of the Standard Model Free
£40.99
Oxford University Press A Tale of Two Infinities
Book SynopsisThe book explores the surprising connections between the study of the universe on the largest scales, and the physics of the infinitely small, and investigates the extraordinary potential of multi-messenger astronomy to provide answers to the key questions of fundamental physics and thus revolutionise our understanding of the universe.Trade ReviewThe author lets his enthusiasm for the subject and its research enterprises shine through, which is an excellent feature * Dave Pike, The Observatory *Particularly timely, and of great appeal to a wide readership from the professional scientist to the intelligent layperson * Professor Sir James Hough, University of Glasgow *A timely, engrossing, witty yet scholarly work, this book is essential reading for anybody interested in the cutting edge of cosmology. Prof. Bertone is an expert guide with the rare gift of presenting complex ideas in an accessible, original and compelling way. An armchair journey to the limits of the known universe and beyond! * Professor Roberto Trotta, Imperial College London and International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) *This is an excellent book that will convey to the lay public the excitement of recent discoveries that are bringing us novel and even revolutionary insights about the nature of the cosmos we inhabit * Professor Abhay Ashtekar, Director of the Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry at Pennsylvania State University *A clear and readable account of humanity's fascination with the cosmos, from ancient times to the Nobel prizewinning observation of gravitational waves. Explains the triumphs and crises of current theories of the origin and structure of the universe in simple, accessible terms. Enjoyable and informative * Professor Ian Stewart FRS, author of Calculating the Cosmos *An intriguing blend of cosmic mysteries and observational probes, with a delightfully accessible approach * Joseph Silk, Homewood Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University *A lively introduction to the newly emerging field of multi-messenger astronomy, outlining the certainties and possibilities as well as the intriguing open questions - a must-read for young minds who want to venture into this new and exciting journey of cosmic exploration * Priyamvada Natarajan, astrophysicist and author of Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos *With equal parts flair and sophistication, Bertone takes us on an incredible tour of our universe's greatest mysteries. The language is at times so evocative you might forget you're actually learning something! * Dan Hooper, Head of the Theoretical Astrophysics Group, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago *In this charming book, Gianfranco Bertone considers puts cutting-edge ideas -- black holes, dark energy, inflationary cosmology -- into their proper context as part of humanity's ongoing quest to understand the universe. Wonderfully written, Tale of Two Infinities manages to illuminate cosmic vistas while never losing sight of the human perspective * Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime *The detection of gravitational waves in 2015 was just the beginning. The insatiably curious seeking context and some sense of the promise of these new starry messengers should look no further. Gianfranco Bertone is a sure guide, and A Tale of Two Infinities is an engaging tour * Jim Baggott, author of Quantum Reality *The recent developments in Cosmology have shown that the infinitely big (the Universe) and the infinitely small (fundamental forces and particles, structure of spacetime at the microscopic, subatomic level) have never been so close to each other. Physicists studying both "infinities" ask the same questions and look for the same answers. The reader will feel comfortably cradled between these two infinities. The text manages to present the latest, on-going "revolution" brought about by the recent direct detection of gravitational waves in a simple way yet respecting and reflecting the deep meaning of it. Enjoy! * Licia Verde, ICREA professor, Instituto de Ciencias del Cosmos (ICC), University of Barcelona *Table of ContentsThe architecture of the cosmos 9 Spheres of heaven Dark foundations Cosmic inferno Stories of a certain Gravity Queen of the cosmos The order of heaven The most beautiful theory The new messengers Gravitational waves Einstein's last gift Ghost Particles Black Holes Phenomenology of the absurd Quantum effects Upcoming waves Dark Matter Halos, streams, and lenses New Physics New portals Dark Energy Possible explanations Quantum origins The future Quantum genesis In the beginning Inflation Primordial waves
£20.99
Oxford University Press The Sun
Book SynopsisThe Sun, as our nearest star, is of enormous importance for life on Earth - providing the warm radiation and light which allowed complex life to evolve. The Sun plays a key role in influencing our climate, whilst solar storms and high-energy events can threaten our communication infrastructure and satellites.This Very Short Introduction explores what we know about the Sun, its physics, its structure, origins, and future evolution. Philip Judge explains some of the remaining puzzles about the Sun that still confound us, using elementary physics, and mathematical concepts. Why does the Sun form spots? Why does it flare? As he shows, these and other nagging difficulties relate to the Sun''s continually variable magnetism, which converts an otherwise dull star into a machine for flooding interplanetary space with variable radiation, high-energy particles and magnetic ejections. Throughout, Judge highlights the many reasons that the Sun is important, and why scientists engage in solar research.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: The Sun, our star 2: The Sun's life-cycle 3: Spots and magnetic fields 4: The dynamic corona 5: Solar impacts on Earth Further Reading Index
£9.49
National Academies Press The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£46.55
National Academies Press Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£37.00
Elsevier Science Astrochemical Modeling
Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Introduction to Astrochemical Modeling Part I: Chemistry 2. Designing a Gas-Phase Chemical Network 3. Time-Dependent Integration of Chemical Networks 4. Dust and Surface Chemistry 5. Integrating Astrochemistry in Hydrodynamics Part II: Radiation and cosmic rays 6. Optically Thin Atomic Photochemistry 7. Molecules and Radiation Shielding 8. Dust-Radiation (Attenuation and Other) 9. Cosmic Rays: Physics, Chemistry, and Computational Challenges Part III: Thermal processes 10. Implementing Cooling and Heating I: Atomic Gas 11. Implementing Cooling and Heating II: Molecular Gas 12. Implementing Cooling and Heating III: Dust Grains Part IV: Beyond the essentials 13. Extra Complexity 14. Synthetic Observations: Bridge the Gap Theory-Observations Part VI: Case studies 15. Modelling large scales: galaxy and molecular clouds 16. Modelling small scales: star-formation in filaments, clumps, cores 17. Modelling radiation and chemistry in protostellar environments 18. The challenge: modelling protoplanetary discs 19. Cosmological simulations first stars and SMBHs 20. Conclusions and future perspectives
£117.90
WW Norton & Co Origins
Book Synopsis“Who can ask for better cosmic tour guides to the universe than Drs. Tyson and Goldsmith?”—Michio Kaku, author of Hyperspace and Parallel WorldsTrade Review"Tyson and Goldsmith search the depths of the universe for clues to how billions of heavenly bodies, Earth, and life itself began. They energetically cover the breadth of modern cosmology." -- Science News
£15.19
Cambridge University Press Galaxy Formation and Evolution
Book SynopsisThe rapidly expanding field of galaxy formation lies at the interface between astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology. Covering diverse topics from these disciplines, all of which are needed to understand how galaxies form and evolve, this book is ideal for researchers entering the field. Individual chapters explore the evolution of the Universe as a whole and its particle and radiation content; linear and nonlinear growth of cosmic structure; processes affecting the gaseous and dark matter components of galaxies and their stellar populations; the formation of spiral and elliptical galaxies; central supermassive black holes and the activity associated with them; galaxy interactions; and the intergalactic medium. Emphasizing both observational and theoretical aspects, this book provides a coherent introduction for astronomers, cosmologists, and astroparticle physicists to the broad range of science underlying the formation and evolution of galaxies.Trade Review'Mo, van den Bosch, and White have written a comprehensive text on the modern subject of galaxy formation and evolution. The book is fully self-contained, covering the basic theory in depth, and including the essential background material on observations and the relevant theory from extragalactic astronomy, stellar astrophysics, and cosmology. It will serve as an indispensable reference for students and researchers alike, and is destined to become a classic in this field.' Robert C. Kennicutt, Jr, Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, and Director, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge'Unraveling the origin and growth of cosmic structures, from the simplicity of the Big Bang to the complexity of the modern Universe, is an unparalleled achievement of modern science. Written by renowned world experts, this book presents a clear, systematic and comprehensive exposition of the physics and mathematics underlying these breathtaking advances. It is compulsory reading not only for those aspiring to contribute to our growing understanding of the cosmos, but for all those who appreciate the beauty and power of contemporary physical science.' Carlos S. Frenk, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, and Director, Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University'… an ideal introduction for anyone with a minimal background in astrophysics who wishes to enter the field of large-scale structure formation. … a comprehensive review of relevant topics …' Physics TodayTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Observational facts; 3. Cosmological background; 4. Cosmological perturbations; 5. Gravitational collapse and collisionless dynamics; 6. Probing the cosmic density field; 7. Formation and structure of dark matter halos; 8. Formation and evolution of gaseous halos; 9. Star formation in galaxies; 10. Stellar populations and chemical evolution; 11. Disk galaxies; 12. Galaxy interactions and transformations; 13. Elliptical galaxies; 14. Active galaxies; 15. Statistical properties of the galaxy population; 16. The intergalactic medium; Appendices; References; Index.
£85.49
MQ - University of Nebraska Press Homesteading Space
Book SynopsisTells the dramatic story of America's first space station from beginning to fiery endTrade Review"A worthy account of an important but largely forgotten program. . . . For those who would like to learn more about the achievement, Homesteading Space offers valuable personal recollections from those who were there."—Roger Launius, Air & Space“A well-told saga of Skylab from start to fiery fall.”—Coalition for Space Exploration“Savvy consumers of space history have come to expect high quality in the ‘Outward Odyssey—A People's History of Spaceflight’ series edited by Colin Burgess. This fourth volume definitely does not disappoint.”—Rick W. Sturdevant, Air Power History “Published here for the first time, [Alan] Bean’s diary, added to voice transcripts of space walks, produces the you-are-there immediacy that buffs crave.”—Gilbert Taylor, Booklist"Homesteading Space is not just about the scientific knowledge that was obtained in orbit—this is the story of the astronauts who conducted the experiments, who lived in space for weeks or months at a time, and how they coped."—Andrew J. Liptak, Worlds in a Grain of Sand blog"The success of our nation's first space station did not come easily. The challenges were met with vision, courage, and competence. Those who personified these traits forcefully and honestly tell their stories here unfiltered by writers or press. The result is both historically significant and a great read."—Ed Gibson, Skylab III science pilot and authorTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForeword by Homer HickamPrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbbreviations1. From the Ground Up2. The Homesteaders3. Getting Ready to Fly4. Fifty-six Days in a Can5. A Tour of Skylab6. Ten Days in May7. "We Fix Anything"8. "Marooned"9. High Performance10. Sprinting a Marathon11. Science on Skylab12. What Goes Up13. The Legacy of SkylabAppendix: Alan Bean's In-Flight DiaryBibliographyIndex
£18.99
CRC Press General Relativity
Book SynopsisThis book provides General Relativity problems to be tackled both analytically and symbolically-numerically with the Mathematica software. In the first case, the reader is guided in setting up the appropriate solutions. In the second case, the reader is provided with very illustrative notebooks to carry out the steps necessary to solve a General Relativity problem. These include the calculation of the Christoffel symbols, Riemann, Ricci, Einstein and energy-momentum tensors, as well as the resolution of the field equations of General Relativity in different astrophysical/cosmological contexts, with and without the introduction of a cosmological constant. This study guide should be used alongside existing textbooks to provide additional learning and engagement opportunities for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics and astrophysics taking courses on general relativity. It may also be of interest to mathematics students interested in celestial mechanics and space sci
£999.99
CRC Press Python for Islamic Astronomy
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£50.34
Cambridge University Press Celestial and Stellar Dynamics
Book SynopsisAlthough the field of celestial dynamics ? the application of Newtonian dynamics to systems with a relatively small number of celestial bodies ? is centuries old, it has been reinvigorated by the discovery of thousands of exoplanetary systems orbiting other stars. This textbook uses the properties of planetary systems, including own Solar System, to illustrate the rich variety of behavior permitted by Newton''s law of gravity. The textbook then expands its view to examine stellar dynamics ? the study of systems containing a very large number of stars or other celestial bodies. The different techniques used for celestial dynamics and stellar dynamics are compared and contrasted. However, throughout the text, emphasis is placed on the underlying physics that applies on scales as small as the Earth?Moon system and as large as a cluster of galaxies. It is ideal for a 1-semester astrophysical dynamics course for upper-level undergraduates and starting graduate students.
£37.99
Cambridge University Press Numerical Relativity Starting from Scratch
Book SynopsisNumerical relativity has emerged as the key tool to model gravitational waves - recently detected for the first time - that are emitted when black holes or neutron stars collide. This book provides a pedagogical, accessible, and concise introduction to the subject. Relying heavily on analogies with Newtonian gravity, scalar fields and electromagnetic fields, it introduces key concepts of numerical relativity in a context familiar to readers without prior expertise in general relativity. Readers can explore these concepts by working through numerous exercises, and can see them ''in action'' by experimenting with the accompanying Python sample codes, and so develop familiarity with many techniques commonly employed by publicly available numerical relativity codes. This is an attractive, student-friendly resource for short courses on numerical relativity, as well as providing supplementary reading for courses on general relativity and computational physics.Trade Review'Computational general relativity has now become a central tool for the exploration of the astrophysical universe, and gravitational-wave astronomy would not be possible without it. A burgeoning or seasoned astrophysicist who wishes to be up to date must therefore acquire an awareness of the field's methods and main achievements. But where to begin? With this book! Baumgarte and Shapiro are leading experts (indeed, founding experts) of this field, and with their trademark lucid and engaging prose, they take us gently by the hand on a comprehensive guided tour. Mysterious notions (lapse, shift, extrinsic curvature, constraint equations) are introduced seamlessly, and the book features a gallery of the field's most important results to date. A superb achievement for the great benefit of the scientific community.' Eric Poisson, University of Guelph; author of A Relativist's Toolkit'Numerical relativity well deserves its reputation as a subject of great beauty yet prodigious conceptual difficulty and daunting technical complexity. This outstanding text, by two leading practitioners of the field, is a wonderful Rosetta Stone for those seeking an efficient path toward a working knowledge of the subject. For me it will serve as an essential reference. I'm sorry only that it was not available sooner.' Robert Eisenstein, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'This is an excellent book explaining the general relativistic two-body problem and its numerical treatment in a highly pedagogical manner to a broad scientific audience. Besides the main topic, readers will also gain some unexpected insight and new viewpoints on numerous wider aspects of Einstein's theory.' Ulrich Sperhake, University of Cambridge'Black holes and gravitational waves are, thanks to new observations, fast-advancing frontiers of astronomy that attract wide interest. Their implications are best addressed by powerful computers, so this text, by two acknowledged world experts, is especially welcome and timely.' Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal; author of Gravity's Fatal AttractionTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Newton's and Einstein's gravity; 2. Foliations of spacetime: constraint and evolution equations; 3. Solving the constraint equations; 4 Solving the evolution equations; 5. Numerical simulations of black-hole binaries; Epilogue; Appendix A. A brief review of tensor properties; Appendix B. A brief introduction to some numerical techniques; Appendix C. A very brief introduction to matter sources; Appendix D. A summary of important results; Appendix E. Answers to selected problems; References; Index.
£41.79
Headline Publishing Group Light in the Darkness
Book SynopsisAs featured in THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW - the new Netflix documentary about Black HolesFor readers of Stephen Hawking, a fascinating account of the universe from the perspective of world-leading astrophysicist Heino Falcke, who took the first ever picture of a black hole.10th April 2019: a global sensation. Heino Falcke, a man working at the boundaries of his discipline and therefore at the limits of the universe had used a network of telescopes spanning the entire planet to take the first picture of a black hole.Light in the Darkness examines how mankind has always looked to the skies, mapping the journey from millennia ago when we turned our gaze to the heavens, to modern astrophysics. Heino Falcke and Jorg Romer entertainingly and compellingly chart the breakthrough research of Falcke''s team, an unprecedented global community of international colleagues developing a telescope complex enough to look directly into a black hole - a hole where liTrade ReviewHeino Falcke's book shows us how much stamina, curiosity, and fascination are required to persevere with a great scientific project against all naysayers * Berliner Zeitung *The technological and logistical challenges that the scientists engaged in the endeavour to produce an image of a black hole were faced with, and how they finally succeeded in the Spring of 2017 - all of this Falcke, with the help of journalist Jörg Römer, has turned into a wonderful book. * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *Light in the Darkness succeeds in making the invisible visible and the unimaginable imaginable * Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger *Falcke asks that we take seriously what black holes have to tell us and that we accept the limits of our knowledge. You don't see it very often that a scientist shows such modesty at the moment of his greatest triumph. One of the many strengths of this book * Neue Zürcher Zeitung *Heino Falcke's very personal book provides surprisingly revealing insights into the life of a researcher. It introduces the reader to the early history of astronomy and its modern foundation and does so in an accessible way * Neue Zürcher Zeitung am Sonntag *Heino Falcke does ground-breaking research into the universe's most mysterious phenomenon and at the very edge of space and time * From the statement of the jury for the Spinoza Prize *For me, Heino Falcke is the Man of the Year 2019, and the image of the black hole in the M87 galaxy that he and his team produced immediately became iconic. But Falcke isn't only a fantastic scientist, but also a gifted storyteller * New Scientist (Dutch edition) *Whoever reads Falcke's book won't just dive into a breathtaking scientific story but will also be in awe of the man himself. In spite - or maybe precisely because? - of his rigorous scientific work, this practicing Christian and minister keeps a room for god in his heart * Neue Ruhr Zeitung *Falcke and Römer pull off the trick of combining an individual and a cosmic perspective in the most illuminating and entertaining fashion * Der Freitag *
£11.69
John Murray Press Why the Universe Exists: How particle physics
Book SynopsisAs you read this, billions of neutrinos from the sun are passing through your body, antimatter is sprouting from your dinner and the core of your being is a chaotic mess of particles known only as quarks and gluons.If the recent discovery of the Higgs boson piqued your interest, then Why The Universe Exists will take you deeper into the world of particle physics, with leading physicists and New Scientist exploring how the universe functions at the smallest scales. Find out about hunt for dark matter and why there is something rather than nothing. Discover how accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland are rewinding time to the first moments after the big bang, and how ghostly neutrino particles may hold the answers to the greatest mysteries of the universe. ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.
£10.44
Little, Brown & Company Out There: A Scientific Guide to Alien Life,
Book SynopsisWe've all asked ourselves the question. It's impossible to look up at the stars and NOT think about it: Are we alone in the universe? Books, movies and television shows proliferate that attempt to answer this question and explore it. In OUT THERE Space.com senior writer Dr. Michael Wall treats that question as merely the beginning, touching off a wild ride of exploration into the final frontier. He considers, for instance, the myriad of questions that would arise once we do discover life beyond Earth (an eventuality which, top NASA officials told Wall, is only drawing closer). What would the first aliens we meet look like? Would they be little green men or mere microbes? Would they be found on a planet in our own solar system or orbiting a star far, far away? Would they intend to harm us, and if so, how might they do it? And might they already have visited?OUT THERE is arranged in a simple question-and-answer format. The answers are delivered in Dr. Wall's informal but informative style, which mixes in a healthy dose of humor and pop culture to make big ideas easier to swallow. Dr. Wall covers questions far beyond alien life, venturing into astronomy, physics, and the practical realities of what long-term life might be like for we mere humans in outer space, such as the idea of lunar colonies, and even economic implications. Readers won't just be hearing from Dr. Wall. As a longtime science journalist--whose work at Space.com is syndicated in outlets from Scientific American to Fox News--he has assembled an impressive array of contacts to provide expert commentary. From a former NASA chief scientist to leading science educators like Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye to would-be space traveler Elon Musk, Dr. Wall shares the insights of some of the leading lights in space exploration today, and shows how the next space age might be brighter than ever.
£19.80
Little, Brown & Company The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy
Book SynopsisNAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2022 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLYAfter a few billion years of bearing witness to life on Earth, of watching one hundred billion humans go about their day-to-day lives, of feeling unbelievably lonely, and of hearing its own story told by others, The Milky Way would like a chance to speak for itself. All one hundred billion stars and fifty undecillion tons of gas of it.It all began some thirteen billion years ago, when clouds of gas scattered through the universe's primordial plasma just could not keep their metaphorical hands off each other. They succumbed to their gravitational attraction, and the galaxy we know as the Milky Way was born. Since then, the galaxy has watched as dark energy pushed away its first friends, as humans mythologized its name and purpose, and as galactic archaeologists have worked to determine its true age (rude). The Milky Way has absorbed supermassive (an actual technical term) black holes, made enemies of a few galactic neighbors, and mourned the deaths of countless stars. Our home galaxy has even fallen in love.After all this time, the Milky Way finally feels that it's amassed enough experience for the juicy tell-all we've all been waiting for. Its fascinating autobiography recounts the history and future of the universe in accessible but scientific detail, presenting a summary of human astronomical knowledge thus far that is unquestionably out of this world.
£19.00
PublicAffairs,U.S. The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark
Book SynopsisScience, like most fields, is set up for men to succeed, and is rife with racism, sexism, and shortsightedness as a result. But as Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein makes brilliantly clear, we all have a right to know the night sky. One of the leading physicists of her generation, she is also one of the fewer than one hundred Black women to earn a PhD in physics.You will enjoy -- and share -- her love for physics, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics and what lies beyond it, to the physics of melanin in skin, to the latest theories of dark matter -- all with a new spin and rhythm informed by pop culture, hip hop, politics, and Star Trek. This vision of the cosmos is vibrant, inclusive and buoyantly non-traditional.By welcoming the insights of those who have been left out for too long, we expand our understanding of the universe and our place in it. The Disordered Cosmos is a vision for a world without prejudice that allows everyone to view the wonders of the universe through the same starry eyes.
£20.90
Cornerstone Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in Space
Book SynopsisThe awe-inspiring Sunday Times Bestseller from astronaut Tim PeakeShortlisted for the British Book Award 2018'Amazing . . . A brilliant book' Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2Have you ever thought of becoming an astronaut?Ask an Astronaut is Tim Peake's personal guide to life in space, based on his historic Principia mission, and the thousands of questions he has been asked since his return to Earth.How does it feel to orbit the earth ten times faster than a speeding bullet?What's it like to eat, sleep and go to the toilet in space?And where to next - the moon, mars or beyond?From training to launch, historic spacewalk to re-entry, Tim has a fascinating answer to everything you ever wanted to know. He reveals for readers of all ages the extraordinary secrets, cutting-edge science, and everyday wonders of life onboard the International Space Station.'Everything you ever wanted to know about life in space' TimesTrade ReviewAsk an Astronaut can be browsed or read straight through . . . Even for those who don’t dream of leaving Earth . . . insight into the experience of someone who has is rather thrilling. * TLS *An enjoyable read and an excellent insight into the work, life and responsibilities of these highly skilled individuals … the perfect gift for anyone with a passion for space * Sky at Night Magazine *A delightful adventure of understanding how and why humans journey into space… a beautiful view of our desire to go beyond our terrestrial gravity. I feel more ready to go into space than I have ever done, though I'm not quite sure I'll get through the training process... -- Robin Ince * The Infinite Monkey Cage *Peake’s honest and detailed answers combine to give a complete picture of an astronaut’s life . . . charming and informative * Daily Express *Everything you ever wanted to know about life in space * Times *
£10.99
World Scientific Europe Ltd Astronomical Spectroscopy: An Introduction To The
Book Synopsis'The first two editions of this textbook have received well-deserved high acclaims, and this — the third edition — deserves no less. Its explanations of the whole gamut of atomic and molecular spectroscopy provide a solid grasp of the theory as well as how to understand such spectra in practice. It thus makes an ideal companion to books that start from the observational aspect of spectroscopy, whether in the lab or at the telescope … This new edition of Tennyson’s book ought to be in the library of every astronomical department.'The Observatory Magazine'It closely follows the course given to third year UCL undergraduates, and the worked examples have surely been tested on students … The last two chapters serve as an effective appendix on more specialised topics in atomic and molecular theory.'Contemporary PhysicsThe third edition of Astronomical Spectroscopy examines the physics necessary to understand and interpret astronomical spectra. It offers a step-by-step guide to the atomic and molecular physics involved in providing astronomical spectra starting from the relatively simple hydrogen atom and working its way to the spectroscopy of small molecules.Based on UCL course material, this book uses actual astronomical spectra to illustrate the theoretical aspects of the book to give the reader a feel for such spectra as well as an awareness of what information can be retrieved from them. It also provides comprehensive exercises, with answers given, to aid understanding.
£42.75
Transworld Publishers Ltd Future Stories: A user's guide to the future
Book Synopsis'David Christian's approach to understanding history can help all of us learn to prepare for the future' - Bill GatesA user's guide to the future: from the algorithms in DNA to why time is like a cocktail glass, interstellar migrations, transhumanism, the fate of the galaxy, and the last black hole...Every second of our lives - whether we're looking both ways before crossing the street, celebrating the birth of a baby, or moving to a new city - we must cope with an unknowable future by telling stories about what will happen next. Where is the future, the place where we set those stories? Can we trust our future stories? And what sort of futures do they show us?David Christian, historian and bestselling author of Origin Story, is renowned for pioneering the emerging discipline of Big History, which surveys the whole of the past. But with Future Stories, he casts his sharp analytical eye forward, offering an introduction to the strange world of the future, and a guide to what we think we know about it at all scales, from the predictive mechanisms of single-celled organisms and tomato plants to the merging of colossal galaxies billions of years from now.Drawing together science, history and philosophy from a huge range of places and times, Christian explores how we prepare for uncertain futures, including the future of human evolution, artificial intelligence, interstellar travel, and more. By linking the study of the past much more closely to the study of the future, we can begin to imagine what the world will look like in the next hundred years and consider solutions to the biggest challenges facing us all.Trade ReviewDavid Christian's approach to understanding history can help all of us learn to prepare for the future that lies ahead and the big challenges facing humanity. -- Bill GatesIn this erudite and immersive study, Big History Project cofounder Christian (Origin Story) examines the science and history of "future thinking" and sketches what the distant future might look like... Christian lucidly explains complex scientific, philosophical, and historical concepts. The result is a stimulating look ahead. * Publisher's Weekly *Future Stories is simultaneously entertaining and sobering, and is recommended reading for anyone who may be curious about what's ahead of us. * Shelf Awareness *A fascinating journey... reminiscent of Peter Godfrey-Smith's writings on the octopus... Future Stories is rich with insights... Most dangerous threats arise from technological and economic overreach... Future Stories not only shows how we have approached such choices through history - it helps us to understand the odds. * New Scientist *
£10.44
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Applications of General Relativity: With Problems
Book SynopsisThe aim of this textbook is to present in a comprehensive way several advanced topics of general relativity, including gravitational waves, tests of general relativity, time delay, spinors in curved spacetime, Hawking radiation, and geodetic precession to mention a few. These are all important topics in today's research activities from both a theoretical and experimental point of view. This textbook is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students to strengthen the knowledge acquired during the core courses on General Relativity. The author developed the book from a series of yearly lectures with the intention of offering a gentle introduction to the field. This book helps understanding the more specialized literature and can be used as a first reading to get quickly into the field when starting research. Chapter-end exercises complete the learning material to master key concepts.Trade Review“It is not a textbook, but rather a compendium of, as the title says, applications of General Relativity (GR) … useful for someone who knows the material but wants to look something up, refresh their memory, etc. … The breadth of topics covered is thus smaller than in some other books, but the depth is great. … it is very specialized, but fills an interesting niche.” (Phillip Helbig, The Observatory, Vol. 142 (1291), December, 2022)Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Elements of General Relativity.- Gravitational Waves.- Black Holes.- Tests of General Relativity.- Solutions.
£37.85
Springer International Publishing AG Nobel Prizes in Astronomy
Book SynopsisWritten in an accessible style, this unique book aims at describing the Nobel prize winning works in astronomy to readers who only have a background of high school physics. It gives a glimpse of the work done by those prize-winning astronomers at the forefront of research and the state-of-the-art techniques used for that, to an interested reader. There have been 11 years when Nobel prizes in physics have been given to astronomers. These award-winning works cover almost the entire subject of astronomy, starting from stellar structure all the way to cosmology. The prizes have been divided in 7 categories which are described in 7 chapters. For each prize a brief biography of the winner(s) is given first. The subject of the award is put into context and the reader is reminded of all the basic concepts needed for understanding the work before, finally, the prize-winning work is described. This enjoyable book will give the interested reader an excellent overview of the highlights and development of astronomy of the 20th and early 21st century.Table of ContentsFor detailed ToC see attachments
£21.84
Little, Brown & Company The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy
Book SynopsisAfter a few billion years of bearing witness to life on Earth, of watching one hundred billion humans go about their day-to-day lives, of feeling unbelievably lonely, and of hearing its own story told by others, The Milky Way would like a chance to speak for itself. All one hundred billion stars and fifty undecillion tons of gas of it.It all began some thirteen billion years ago, when clouds of gas scattered through the universe's primordial plasma just could not keep their metaphorical hands off each other. They succumbed to their gravitational attraction, and the galaxy we know as the Milky Way was born. Since then, the galaxy has watched as dark energy pushed away its first friends, as humans mythologized its name and purpose, and as galactic archaeologists have worked to determine its true age (rude). The Milky Way has absorbed supermassive (an actual technical term) black holes, made enemies of a few galactic neighbors, and mourned the deaths of countless stars. Our home galaxy has even fallen in love.After all this time, the Milky Way finally feels that it's amassed enough experience for the juicy tell-all we've all been waiting for. Its fascinating autobiography recounts the history and future of the universe in accessible but scientific detail, presenting a summary of human astronomical knowledge thus far that is unquestionably out of this world.NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2022 BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AND SCIENCENETNAMED A BEST AUDIOBOOK OF 2022 BY BOOKPAGE
£14.44
Harvard University Press Life in the Cosmos
Book SynopsisAre we alone in the universe? It is a captivating question, but one that historically eluded proper scientific investigation. The new discipline of astrobiology changes the game, introducing rigor to the quest for extraterrestrial life. Life in the Cosmos surveys the field, showing how cutting-edge research is closing in on the answers “out there.”Trade ReviewThe new go-to for astrobiology. Life in the Cosmos is a quantitative and encyclopedic tour de force for all topics related to the origin of life on Earth and life’s existence beyond. -- Sara Seager, author of The Smallest Lights in the UniverseAn instant classic. Lingam and Loeb’s brilliant Life in the Cosmos is a momentous scientific achievement. To anyone looking to dig deep into the exciting prospect of discovering extraterrestrial life, I say: Make space on your bookshelf. -- Michael J. Russell, University of TurinA book of sweeping vision. Lingam and Loeb offer detailed and insightful analysis of the challenges we face as we investigate the universal distribution of this unusual material we call life. A helpful and fascinating read. -- Charles Cockell, author of Astrobiology: Understanding Life in the UniverseAre we alone in the universe? Lingam and Loeb provide expert guidance to the many dimensions of this fundamental question—and, just maybe, how to answer it. -- Andrew H. Knoll, author of A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight ChaptersA remarkable and modern survey of how to search for life in the universe, from two of the boldest, most innovative thinkers in the field today. Impressively detailed, this book takes into account what we know about life on Earth to consider what we don’t know about life elsewhere. -- Jason Wright, Director, Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence CenterThis book discusses everything you ever wanted to know about life in the cosmos. Lingam and Loeb are the best guides for this truly breathtaking journey, providing masterful and comprehensive answers for everyone, from the scholar to the amateur stargazer. -- Dimitar Sasselov, author of The Life of Super-Earths: How the Hunt for Alien Worlds and Artificial Cells Will Revolutionize Life on Our PlanetThe search for intelligent alien life continues to motivate and inspire generations of scientists and the public alike…The authors separate themselves from other treatments of similar topics by focusing on ‘extraterrestrial technological intelligences’ rather than alien life more generally. * Nature Astronomy *Boldly goes where few academic books have gone before by seriously and open-mindedly considering the possibility of extraterrestrial technological intelligence on par with or far beyond humans…Chock-full of interesting topics and insights…A stellar achievement that deserves the undivided attention of readers who are ready to take a deep dive into astrobiology. * Inquisitive Biologist *An excellent primer on life on earth, from the very beginnings…Both incredibly wide-ranging and constantly fascinating. * Complete Review *
£56.06
University of Minnesota Press Metaphysical Experiments: Physics and the
Book SynopsisAn engaging critique of the science and metaphysics behind our understanding of the universe The James Webb Space Telescope, when launched in 2021, will be the premier orbital observatory, capable of studying every phase of the history of the universe, from the afterglow of the Big Bang to the formation of our solar system. Examining the theoretical basis for key experiments that have made this latest venture in astrophysics possible, Bjørn Ekeberg reveals that scientific cosmology actually operates in a twilight zone between the physical and metaphysical. Metaphysical Experiments explains how our current framework for understanding the universe, the Big Bang theory, is more determined by a deep faith in mathematical universality than empirical observation. Ekeberg draws on philosophical insights by Spinoza, Bergson, Heidegger, and Arendt; on the critical perspectives of Latour, Stengers, and Serres; and on cutting-edge physics research at the Large Hadron Collider, to show how the universe of modern physics was invented to reconcile a Christian metaphysical premise with a claim to the theoretical unification of nature.By focusing on the nonmathematical assumptions underlying some of the most significant events in modern science, Metaphysical Experiments offers a critical history of contemporary physics that demystifies such concepts as the universe, particles, singularity, gravity, blackbody radiation, the speed of light, wave/particle duality, natural constants, black holes, dark matter, and dark energy. Ekeberg’s incisive reading of the metaphysical underpinnings of scientific cosmology offers an innovative account of how we understand our place in the universe.Trade Review"In this provocative and sharply written account, Bjørn Ekeberg makes a radical case for the social construction of physics and its truths, urging that the mathematical unification of physical phenomena is not only physics’ goal but also a deeply metaphysical requirement for its progress—progress put into doubt, not to say crisis, by the emergence of mathematical theories (such as multiverse or string theory) that seem ‘untestable in any empirical sense and probably remain beyond the horizon of experimental physics.’"—Brian Rotman, author of Becoming Beside Ourselves: The Alphabet, Ghosts, and Distributed Human Being "What if the basis of contemporary cosmology were false? This stirring question launches Bjørn Ekeberg on a lucid exploration of modern scientific history, leading to the recent marriage of cosmology with experimental particle physics. Well-informed in contemporary philosophy, Ekeberg provides a unique synthesis that will be of interest to philosophers of science and contemplative scientists alike."—Graham Harman, Southern California Institute of Architecture "This erudite, idiosyncratic book more than earns a place on the library shelf." —CHOICETable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: A Cosmic World-Object1. The Metaphysics Experiment: From Particle Collider to the Cosmos2. God, That Is, Nature: The Invention of the Universe3. Probability and Proliferation: The Invention of the Particle4. Big Bang Metaphysics: The Universe of Modern CosmologyConclusion: A Question of RelevanceNotesBibliographyIndex
£19.79
Springer International Publishing AG Astrophysics Is Easy!: An Introduction for the
Book SynopsisAstrophysics is often –with some justification – regarded as incomprehensible without the use of higher mathematics. Consequently, many amateur astronomers miss out on some of the most fascinating aspects of the subject. Astrophysics Is Easy! cuts through the difficult mathematics and explains the basics of astrophysics in accessible terms. Using nothing more than plain arithmetic and simple examples, the workings of the universe are outlined in a straightforward yet detailed and easy-to-grasp manner. Following on the success of the first and second editions, this fully updated third edition covers the significant changes in astrophysics theories and research that have occurred in the last five years, including new material on: exomoons, exocomets and exoasteroids; Special and General Relativity; gravitational waves, their origins and detection; telescope optics; black hole astrophysics; and more. For each topic under discussion, an observing list is included so that observers can actually see for themselves the concepts presented – stars of the spectral sequence, nebulae, galaxies, even black holes. The book also features in-text, nonmathematical questions and end-of-chapter problems – all with their accompanying solutions – to help readers discuss and digest the material.Table of ContentsCh 1. Tools of the trade1. New Section - Telescope Basics a. Basic formulae to explain magnification, resolution, field-of-view, light-grasp, etc.. b. Use of internet for star-maps, planetariums, etc.. 2. Distancesa. The Nearest Stars To Us3. Brightness and Luminosity4. Magnitudesa. The Brightest Stars5. Coloura. Coloured Stars6. Size and Massa. The Biggest Stars7. Star Constituents8. Spectra and Spectroscopy9. Stellar Classificationa. The Spectral Sequence10. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram11. The H-R diagram and Stellar Radius12. The H-R diagram and Stellar Luminosity13. The H-R diagram and Stellar MassCh 2. The Solar System 1 The Scientific Method 2 Early Historyi. The Ancient Greeksii. Copernicusiii. Tychoiv. Keplerv. Galileovi. Newton3 The Motions of the Planetsb. Kepler’s Three Lawsc. Newton & Gravityd. Newton’s Laws of Motione. Newton’s Law Of Gravitational Attractionf. The Tides2. New Section - The Greenhouse Effect3. Observing the PlanetsCh 3. The Interstellar Medium1. Introduction2. Nebulæ3. Emission Nebulæa. Brightest Emission Nebulæ4. Dark Nebulæa. Famous Dark Nebulæ5. Reflection Nebulæa. Brightest Reflection Nebulae6. Molecular Clouds7. Protostars8. The Jeans CriterionCh 4. Star Birth1. The Birth of a Star2. Pre-Main Sequence Evolution and the Effect of Mass3. Mass Loss and Mass Gain a. T Tauri Starsb. Discs and Winds4. Clusters and Groups of Starsa. Galactic Star Clustersi. Bright Star Clusters5. Stellar Associations and Streamsa. Bright Stellar Associations and Streams6. Star Formation TriggersCh 5. The Sun and Stars1. The Sun – The Nearest Stara. From the Core to the Surfaceb. The Proton-Proton Chainc. Energy Transport from the Core to the Surfaced. New Section – Sunspotse. New Section – The Solar Cycle2. Binary Stars and Stellar Mass3. Binary Starsa. Visual Binary Stars4. The Masses of Orbiting Stars5. Lifetimes of Main-Sequence Stars6. Red Giant Starsa. Bright Red Giant Stars7. Helium Burning and the Helium Flasha. Helium Burningb. The Helium Flash8. Star Clusters, Red Giants and the H-R Diagram9. Post Main-Sequence Star clusters: The Globular Clusters.a. Bright Globular Clustersb. New Section – Are Globulars galaxy corpses?10. Pulsating Starsa. Why do Stars Pulsate?b. Cepheid Variables and the Period-Luminosity Relationc. Cepheid’s: Temperature and Massd. RR Lyrae and Long-Period Variable Starse. Bright Cepheid Variablesf. Bright RR Lyrae VariablesCh 6. The Death of Stars1. The Asymptotic Giant Branch2. Dredge-Ups3. Mass Loss and Stellar Winds4. Infrared Stars5. The End Of An AGB Star’s Lifea. Bright Carbon Stars6. Planetary Nebulaea. Bright Planetary Nebulae7. White Dwarf Starsa. Electron Degeneracyb. The Chandrasekhar Limitc. New Section – Is the Chandrasekhar Limit correct?d. White Dwarf Evolutione. White Dwarf Originsf. Bright White Dwarfs8. High Mass Stars and Nuclear Burninga. Bright Supergiant Stars9. Iron, Supernovæ and the Formation of the Elementsa. Supernovæ Remnantsb. Supernovæ Typesc. New Section - Hypernovae10. The End Result of High Mass Star Evolution: Neutron Stars, Pulsars, and Black Holesa. Neutron Starsb. PulsarsNEW Chapter - Special Relativity a. The Speed of Lightb. The Lorentz Equations.c. Paradox’s. NEW Chapter - General Relativitya. Warped Space and Timeb. Why is Gravity so weak?c. General relativity in the solar system.d. Gravitational Wavese. 2018 – First contactNEW Chapter – Black Holes a. The Singularityb. Time Travelc. Kerr Black Holesd. Rotating and non-symmetrical Black Holese. Imaging the Event HorizonCh 7. Exoplanets 2. A new sciencea. Methods of Detectionb. Bright Exoplanetsc. New Section – Exo-moons, exo-comets, exo-asteroidsCh 8. Galaxies1. Introduction2. Galaxy Types3. Galaxy Structure4. Stellar Populations5. Hubble Classification of Galaxies6. New section - Other types of galaxy classification7. Observing Galaxiesa. Spiral Galaxiesb. Barred Spiral Galaxiesc. Elliptical Galaxiesd. Lenticular Galaxiese. Irregular GalaxiesCh 9. Active Galaxies1. The Active Galactic Zoo2. The structure and evolution of AGN’sa. Brightest Active GalaxiesCh 10. Cosmology 1 Gravitational Lensing2 Redshift, Distance and the Hubble Law3 Quasar Redshift Problem4 Clusters of Galaxiesa. Groups and Clusters of Galaxies5 The Beginning of the Universe6 The End of the Universe7 Other Cosmologies8 Amateur Observational Cosmology?New Chapter – the Speculative Universea. Beyond the Multiverseb. Infinite Universec. Inflation, then the Big Bang.d. Filamentary nature of Dark Matter.e. MOND – The elephant in the roomf. Endnote
£22.77
BenBella Books The Grand Biocentric Design: How Life Creates
Book SynopsisWhat if life isn't just a part of the universe . . . what if it determines the very structure of the universe itself? The theory that blew your mind in Biocentrism and Beyond Biocentrism is back, with brand-new research revealing the startling truth about our existence. What is consciousness? Why are we here? Where did it all come from—the laws of nature, the stars, the universe? Humans have been asking these questions forever, but science hasn't succeeded in providing many answers—until now. In The Grand Biocentric Design, Robert Lanza, one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People," is joined by theoretical physicist Matej Pavšic and astronomer Bob Berman to shed light on the big picture that has long eluded philosophers and scientists alike. This engaging, mind-stretching exposition of how the history of physics has led us to Biocentrism—the idea that life creates reality-takes readers on a step-by-step adventure into the great science breakthroughs of the past centuries, from Newton to the weirdness of quantum theory, culminating in recent revelations that will challenge everything you think you know about our role in the universe. This book offers the most complete explanation of the science behind Biocentrism to date, delving into the origins of the memorable principles introduced in previous books in this series, as well as introducing new principles that complete the theory. The authors dive deep into topics including consciousness, time, and the evidence that our observations-or even knowledge in our minds-can affect how physical objects behave. The Grand Biocentric Design is a one-of-a-kind, groundbreaking explanation of how the universe works, and an exploration of the science behind the astounding fact that time, space, and reality itself, all ultimately depend upon us.Trade Review"For those addicted to exploring our role as observers in defining our universe, here is your long-awaited major update . . . You'll love The Grand Biocentric Design―it adds new turf to the physics of making universes, and includes ‘solid evidence,' at last, that observers define the structure of physical reality itself." —George Church, Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, professor of health sciences and technology at Harvard and MIT, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering (on Thomson Reuters short-list for the Nobel Prize) "The Grand Biocentric Design brilliantly draws our attention to the most important feature of the entire universe: our human minds . . . This new book brings out the real nature of our universe: for all of us to deeply search for fuller understanding, and for meaning." —Richard Conn Henry, academy professor of physics and astronomy at The Johns Hopkins University, and former deputy director of NASA's Astrophysics Division "For those searching for answers to contemporary physics' disturbing findings, The Grand Biocentric Design is a must-read." —Ronald M. Green, Eunice and Julian Cohen Professor Emeritus for the study of ethics and human values at Dartmouth College, and Professor Emeritus and former chairman of the Department of Religion. "In The Grand Biocentric Design, his third and best book on the topic, Lanza and colleagues unpack, with unprecedented rigor, his theory of biocentrism through the hard lens of physics . . . If you consider biocentrism mere philosophy, look to this volume to make the case that science is at its core." —Pamela Weintraub, senior editor at Aeon, former executive editor of Discover,and editor-in-chief of OMNI "In his two previous books on biocentrism (written with Bob Berman), biologist Robert Lanza proposed a bold new theory of the universe, one that builds on the insights of quantum physics to put consciousness at its center. Here, with theoretical physicist Matej Pavšič, Lanza strives, in language suited to the general reader, to explain the science behind this theory." —Robert Wilson, editor in chief at The American Scholar, the venerable magazine of Phi Beta Kappa, which has published the work of Albert Einstein, John Updike, Saul Bellow, Bertrand Russell, Margaret Mead, and Robert Frost, among others "This must-read book is a masterpiece, discussing newly emergent research that answers questions, through the lens of biocentrism, on how the world works and who we are . . . It will provide thought-provoking and life-changing insights on your existence and everything that surrounds you." —Anthony Atala, W. Boyce Professor and chairman, and director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University, and member of the National Academy of Medicine, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine "Robert Lanza is one of the most creative and brilliant scientists I have ever known . . . The Grand Biocentric Design is his latest creative work based on his life-long scientific journey, which opens up a new biology-based vista to our understanding of existence and consciousness." —Kwang-Soo Kim, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, and director of the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital "A unique and paradigm-shattering concept that biological systems are primary and affect our perception of physical systems . . . This insightful work is certain to energize our conversations about the nature of the biological and physical world." —Lucian V. Del Priore, MD, PhD (physics), Robert R. Young Professor at Yale University "A masterly tour de force that will change your life. Robert Lanza and his coauthors take on the Herculean task of reconciling quantum theory, relativity, and consciousness. You will never look at science—indeed, life and death—the same way again." —Ralph Levinson, Professor Emeritus of health sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
£12.99
Princeton University Press Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell
Book SynopsisThis unique textbook provides an accessible introduction to Einstein's general theory of relativity, a subject of breathtaking beauty and supreme importance in physics. With his trademark blend of wit and incisiveness, A. Zee guides readers from the fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics to the most exciting frontiers of research today, including de STrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013 "Zee writes in an informal, conversational style, displaying his extensive experience and close contacts with many undergraduate and graduate students."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPart 0: Setting the Stage Prologue: Three Stories 3 Introduction: A Natural System of Units, the Cube of Physics, Being Overweight, & Hawking Radiation 10 Prelude: Relativity Is an Everyday and Ancient Concept 17 ONE Book One: From Newton to the Gravitational Redshift I Part I: From Newton to Riemann: Coordinates to Curvature I.1 Newton's Laws 25 I.2 Conservation Is Good 35 I.3 Rotation: Invariance and Infinitesimal Transformation 38 I.4 Who Is Afraid of Tensors? 52 I.5 From Change of Coordinates to Curved Spaces 62 I.6 Curved Spaces: Gauss and Riemann 82 I.7 Differential Geometry Made Easy, but Not Any Easier! 96 Recap to Part I 110 II Part II: Action, Symmetry, and Conservation II.1 The Hanging String and Variational Calculus 113 II.2 The Shortest Distance between Two Points 123 II.3 Physics Is Where the Action Is 136 II.4 Symmetry and Conservation 150 Recap to Part II 155 III Part III: Space and Time Unified III.1 Galileo versus Maxwell 159 III.2 Einstein's Clock and Lorentz's Transformation 166 III.3 Minkowski and the Geometry of Spacetime 174 III.4 Special Relativity Applied 195 III.5 The Worldline Action and the Unification of Material Particles with Light 207 III.6 Completion, Promotion, and the Nature of the Gravitational Field 218 Recap to Part III 238 IV Part IV: Electromagnetism and Gravity IV.1 You Discover Electromagnetism and Gravity! 241 IV.2 Electromagnetism Goes Live 248 IV.3 Gravity Emerges! 257 Recap to Part IV 261 TWO Book Two: From the Happiest Thought to the Universe Prologue to Book Two: The Happiest Thought 265 V Part V: Equivalence Principle and Curved Spacetime V.1 Spacetime Becomes Curved 275 V.2 The Power of the Equivalence Principle 280 V.3 The Universe as a Curved Spacetime 288 V.4 Motion in Curved Spacetime 301 V.5 Tensors in General Relativity 312 V.6 Covariant Differentiation 320 Recap to Part V 334 VI Part VI: Einstein's Field Equation Derived and Put to Work VI.1 To Einstein's Field Equation as Quickly as Possible 337 VI.2 To Cosmology as Quickly as Possible 355 VI.3 The Schwarzschild-Droste Metric and Solar System Tests of Einstein Gravity 362 VI.4 Energy Momentum Distribution Tells Spacetime How to Curve 378 VI.5 Gravity Goes Live 388 VI.6 Initial Value Problems and Numerical Relativity 400 Recap to Part VI 406 VII Part VII: Black Holes VII.1 Particles and Light around a Black Hole 409 VII.2 Black Holes and the Causal Structure of Spacetime 419 VII.3 Hawking Radiation 436 VII.4 Relativistic Stellar Interiors 451 VII.5 Rotating Black Holes 458 VII.6 Charged Black Holes 477 Recap to Part VII 485 VIII Part VIII: Introduction to Our Universe VIII.1 The Dynamic Universe 489 VIII.2 Cosmic Struggle between Dark Matter and Dark Energy 502 VIII.3 The Gamow Principle and a Concise History of the Early Universe 515 VIII.4 Inflationary Cosmology 530 Recap to Part VIII 537 THREE Book Three: Gravity at Work and at Play IX Part IX: Aspects of Gravity IX.1 Parallel Transport 543 IX.2 Precession of Gyroscopes 549 IX.3 Geodesic Deviation 552 IX.4 Linearized Gravity, Gravitational Waves, and the Angular Momentum of Rotating Bodies 563 IX.5 A Road Less Traveled 578 IX.6 Isometry, Killing Vector Fields, and Maximally Symmetric Spaces 585 IX.7 Differential Forms and Vielbein 594 IX.8 Differential Forms Applied 607 IX.9 Conformal Algebra 614 IX.10 De Sitter Spacetime 624 IX.11 Anti de Sitter Spacetime 649 Recap to Part IX 668 X Part X: Gravity Past, Present, and Future X.1 Kaluza, Klein, and the Flowering of Higher Dimensions 671 X.2 Brane Worlds and Large Extra Dimensions 696 X.3 Effective Field Theory Approach to Einstein Gravity 708 X.4 Finite Sized Objects and Tidal Forces in Einstein Gravity 714 X.5 Topological Field Theory 719 X.6 A Brief Introduction to Twistors 729 X.7 The Cosmological Constant Paradox 745 X.8 Heuristic Thoughts about Quantum Gravity 760 Recap to Part X 775 Closing Words 777 Timeline of Some of the People Mentioned 791 Solutions to Selected Exercises 793 Bibliography 819 Index 821 Collection of Formulas and Conventions 859
£80.75
Oxford University Press Inc The Apollo Chronicles
Book SynopsisThe moon landing of 1969 stands as an iconic moment for both the United States and humankind. The familiar story focuses on the journey of the brave astronauts, who brought home Moon rocks and startling photographs. But Apollo''s full account includes the earthbound engineers, mounds of their crumpled paper, and smoldering metal shards of exploded engines. How exactly did the nation, step by difficult step, take men to the Moon and back? In The Apollo Chronicles, fifty years after the moon landing, author Brandon R. Brown, himself the son of an Apollo engineer, revisits the men and women who toiled behind the lights. He relays the defining twentieth-century project from its roots, bringing the engineers'' work and personalities to bright life on the page. Set against the backdrop of a turbulent American decade, the narrative whisks audiences through tense deadlines and technical miracles, from President John F. Kennedy''s 1961 challenge to NASA''s 1969 lunar triumph, as engineers confrTrade ReviewAn excellent history of the space program through the eyes of its engineers and scientists. * James Gleick, The New York Review of Books *Brown takes us leap by leap through the 1960s, tracing the parallel engineering work at Cape Canaveral (the launch site in Florida), the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas (now the Johnson Space Center), and the rocketry group in Huntsville, Alabama. Brown peppers his account with on-the-ground details of how engineers dealt with unexpected problems. * Alexandra Witze, Nature *Brown shows the engineers meeting tough deadlines and performing technical miracles, drawing schematics around the clock, making mistakes, coping with warning lights that blinked at the worst possible time, and regrouping after the tragic death of three astronauts. * Flora Taylor, American Scientist *A great addition to anything you may have read about the space race with so much material I've never seen before * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *While [Brown] appreciates the bravery of the astronauts, his book is "more concerned with the astronauts' protectors" (which is a nice way of looking at it). This book... is written in an entertaining and accessible narrative style. It concludes with a thought-provoking observation on the heritage of the Apollo engineers. * Mark Williamson, Engineering & Technology *In The Apollo Chronicles, we meet the engineers who toiled behind the spotlights from 1958 to 1972. The son of an Apollo engineer, author Brandon R. Brown devotes his writing chops to storytelling and a dramatic tension that will engage even the most technical unsavvy and engineering estranged of readers. * Nelson Noven, Fahrenheit *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Chapter One: 1945 - Origins Chapter Two: 1957 - Paths, Power and Panic Chapter Three: 1960 - Silent Movies and Old-World Evenings Chapter Four: 1961 - A Toddler's Marathon Chapter Five: The Moon Chapter Six: 1962 - Punch Cards and a Key to the Trunk Chapter Seven: 1964 - Of Doubts and Bugs Chapter Eight: 1965 - Saturn Breathes Chapter Nine: 1966 - Of Software and Star Balls Chapter Ten: 1967 - From Madness to Miracle Chapter Eleven: 1968 - Of Timeless Views and New Perspectives Chapter Twelve: 1969 - Alarms and Lightning Chapter Thirteen: 1972 - From Rovers to Regrets Chapter Fourteen: 1981 - Farther Along Chapter Fifteen: Today - Mementos and Returns Chapter Sixteen: How We Did It
£36.09
Oxford University Press Gravitational Waves
Book SynopsisThe two-volume book Gravitational Waves provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the physics of gravitational waves. While Volume 1 is devoted to the theory and experiments, Volume 2 discusses what can be learned from gravitational waves in astrophysics and in cosmology, by systematizing a large body of theoretical developments that have taken place over the last decades. The second volume also includes a detailed discussion of the first direct detections of gravitational waves. In the author''s typical style, the theoretical results are generally derived afresh, clarifying or streamlining the existing derivations whenever possible, and providing a coherent and consistent picture of the field. The first volume of Gravitational Waves , which appeared in 2007, has established itself as the standard reference in the field. The scientific community has eagerly awaited this second volume. The recent direct detection of gravitational waves makes the topics in this book particularly tTrade ReviewThe book covers a staggering breadth of material and is extremely useful as a bird's-eye overview of the field... From now on I will recommend it as the best entry point for students who want to join this blooming research field * Emanuele Berti, Physics Today *Michele Maggiore's textbook spends equal effort reviewing the astrophysical and cosmological theories behind the production of cosmic gravitational waves and discussing the observational constraints that could be gleaned from the handful of LIGO/Virgo detections, the pulsar timing arrays and upcoming facilities like LISA. * Nature Astronomy *Table of ContentsIII: Astrophysical Sources of GWs 10: Stellar collapse 11: Neutron stars 12: Black-hole perturbation theory 13: Properties of dynamical space-times 14: GWs from coalescing compact binaries. Theory IV: Cosmology and Gravitational Waves 17: Basics of FRW cosmology 18: Helicity decomposition of the metric perturbations 19: Evolution of cosmological perturbations 20: The imprint of GWs on the CMB 21: Inflation and primordial perturbations 22: Stochastic backgrounds of cosmological origin 23: Stochastic backgrounds and pulsar timing arrays
£78.85
Oxford University Press Astronomy The Human Quest for Understanding
Book SynopsisSince humans first looked up at the stars, astronomy has had a particular ability to stir the imagination and challenge the thinking of scientists and non-scientists alike. Astronomy: The Human Quest for Understanding is an introductory astronomy textbook specifically designed to relate to non-science majors across a wide variety of disciplines, nurture their curiosity, and develop vital science-based critical-thinking skills. This textbook provides an introduction to how science operates in practice and what makes it so successful in uncovering nature''s secrets. Given that the study of astronomy dates back thousands of years, it is the ideal subject for tracing the development of the physical sciences and how our evolving understanding of nature has influenced, and been influenced by, mathematics, philosophy, religion, geography, politics, and more. This historical approach also illustrates how wrong turns have been taken, and how the inherent self-correcting nature of science througTrade ReviewThis hefty volume includes standard textbook-type supplements-such as problem sets with some of the answers provided in an appendix but could also serve as a mini-reference book or self-study guide for a wide range of astronomical topics...The writing style is fresh and approachable, encouraging an understanding of the nature of science as something that people do when curious about how nature works. * Choice *The writing style is fresh and approachable, encouraging an understanding of the nature of science as something that people do when curious about how nature works. The level of mathematics is low, but math is used extensively. This well-illustratedbook includes a nice glossary and an index. An accompanying website offers tutorials and further examples as well as updates, such as discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), that came in after thebook was printed. * M.-K. Hemenway, formerly, University of Texas at Austin, CHOICE connect *Dale Ostlie has wonderfully redefined what knowledge of the physical universe an introductory textbook on astronomy should convey. * Simon Mitton, St Edmund's College Cambridge *Ostlie presents an interesting approach to introductory astronomy and one that will help students better learn and understand not just astronomy, but how science in general works as well. * Aaron Grocholski, American University, Washington DC *Table of ContentsI The Process of Science Through the Lens of Astronomy 1: The Nature of Science 2: The Heavens: A Realm of Mystery 3: On the Path Toward Modern Science 4: The Copernican Revolution 5: Sir Isaac Newton's Universe 6: The Universality of Physical Law 7: Revealing Secrets Hidden in Light and Matter 8: Modern Physics: New Science to Study the Universe II The Sun, Our Solar System, and Exoplanets 9: The Sun, Our Parent Star 10: An Overview of the Solar System 11: The Rocky Planets and Our Moon 12: The Giant Planet Systems 13: Dwarf Planets and Small Bodies 14: Planets Everywhere and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life III Stars and the Universe Beyond 15: Measuring the Stars 16: The Lives of Stars 17: The End of a Stellar Life 18: Galaxies Galore 19: The Once and Future Universe Appendices
£45.12
Oxford University Press Planetary Systems
Book SynopsisNot long ago, the Solar System was the only example of a planetary system - a star and the bodies orbiting it - that we knew. Now, we know thousands of planetary systems, and have even been able to observe planetary systems at the moment of their birth. This Very Short Introduction explores this new frontier, incorporating the latest research. The book takes the reader on a journey through the grand sweep of time, from the moment galaxies begin to form after the Big Bang to trillions of years in the future when the Universe will be a dilute soup of dim galaxies populated mostly by red dwarf stars. Throughout, Raymond T. Pierrehumbert introduces the latest insights gained from a new generation of telescopes that catch planetary systems at the moment of formation, and to the theoretical advances that attempt to make sense of these observations. He explains how the elements that make up life and the planets on which life can live are forged in the interiors of dying stars, and make their way into rocky planets. He also explores the vast array of newly discovered planets orbiting stars other than our own, and explains the factors that determine their climates. Finally, he reveals what determines how long planetary systems can live, and what happens in their end-times. Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewNamed by the Lunar and Planetary Institute as a 'New and Noteworthy' book. * Lunar and Planetary Institute *Table of Contents1: Beginnings 2: Creation revealed 3: Beautiful theories, ugly facts 4: What are planets made of? 5: A grand tour of exoplanets 6: Planetary climate and habitability 7: How it all ends Further Reading Index
£9.49
Oxford University Press Galaxies A Very Short Introduction Very Short
Book SynopsisGalaxies are the building blocks of the Universe: standing like islands in space, each is made up of many hundreds of millions of stars in which the chemical elements are made, around which planets form, and where on at least one of those planets intelligent life has emerged. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is just one of several hundred million other galaxies that we can now observe through our telescopes. Yet it was only in the 1920s that we realised that there is more to the Universe than the Milky Way, and that there were in fact other ''islands'' out there. In many ways, modern astronomy began with this discovery, and the story of galaxies is therefore the story of modern astronomy. Since then, many exciting discoveries have been made about our own galaxy and about those beyond: how a supermassive black hole lurks at the centre of every galaxy, for example, how enormous forces are released when galaxies collide, how distant galaxies provide a window on the early Universe, and what the formation of young galaxies can tell us about the mysteries of Cold Dark Matter. In this Very Short Introduction, renowned science writer John Gribbin describes the extraordinary things that astronomers are learning about galaxies, and explains how this can shed light on the origins and structure of the Universe.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. A Very Short Introduction ; 2. The Great Debate ; 3. Our Island ; 4. The Expanding Universe ; 5. Across the Universe ; 6. The Origin of Galaxies ; 7. The Universe at Large ; References & Further Reading ; Index
£999.99
The University of Chicago Press Quantum Legacies Dispatches from an Uncertain
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A masterpiece of historical analysis. . . . Skillfully written and a pleasure to read." * Nature * "A work of coherence, accessibility, and rhetorical power not generally found in [these] volumes. . . . Kaiser has woven together a unique, compelling, and kaleidoscopic portrait of the quantum revolution and its implications. He doesn't hide from the messiness of science but embraces the challenge of understanding its underlying human and social conditions." -- Jose G. Perillan * Physics Today * "Quantum Legacies does not disappoint. . . . It is a breath of fresh air to see physics writing like this: lucid and friendly, sober and thoughtful, and willing to trust the reader's engagement and intelligence rather than demanding the former and underestimating the latter. . . . Superb popular science. . . . It is hard for me to imagine any physicist who wouldn't enjoy the fine cloth from which it is cut, nor the pleasing effect it makes." -- Philip Ball * Physics World * "Engrossing. . . . Leave[s] us with a richer picture of physics as a lived activity." * Los Angeles Review of Books * "Most history books written for the wider public favor a narrower understanding of science. David Kaiser's work is a welcomed exception. . . . [He] gives a witty and insightful overview of the development of modern physics. . . . An engrossing read that will give specialists and nonspecialists alike a deeper understanding of how phenom ena as diverse as geopolitics and eastern mysticism have shaped physics in the past century." * Science * "An ambitious collection of essays that merges [Kaiser's] two scholarly identities. . . . A wide-ranging anthology." -- Melinda Baldwin * Physics Today * "From Einstein to Heisenberg, Schroedinger to Hawking, Kaiser humanises the people and by extension their ideas, all the while making connections between the inner world of the academic quantum theory community and the outer world of global events. This sociopolitical standpoint is a key factor in making the technical science relevant to the non-expert reader. . . . In this collection of highly entertaining essays, he finds the perfect line between scientific scholarship and telling a good story." * Engineering & Technology * "All together it paints a very compelling picture of how strategic decisions at the public policy level shaped the way physicists have gone about studying the universe. . . . It's a good story well told." * Forbes * "Captivating. . . . You can really get the sense of the quantum mechanical impact on various and disparate fields ranging from cosmology to the early foundations of quantum mechanics, the history of quantum mechanics, all the way up through popular culture, weaving its way through how physics pedagogy and even scientific STEM pedagogy is taught to this very day. . . . It's exhaustively researched and referenced. . . . I want people to buy every single copy." -- Brian Keating * Into the Impossible * "The book paints intimate portraits of some incredible luminaries . . . . Kaiser is an incredible ambassador for physics and its history." -- Matthew Jordan * New Books in Science, Technology, and Society * "Fantastically readable. Anybody interested in either science or history on a professional or a popular level should read it. It's a fantastic introduction to the way you can think about science in all sorts of different interdisciplinary, humanistic ways. It's really a huge amount of fun." -- Matthew Stanley * What the If? * "It's [Kaiser's] careful analysis of physics's sociological aspects that makes Quantum Legacies a delightful read. . . . This is the kind of material that you won't find in other books on the history and philosophy of physics." -- Ash Jogalekar * The Curious Wavefunction * "This interesting anthology on selected topics from the rich history of quantum mechanics, especially during its glory days, will engross any reader who has even a modest acquaintance with quantum theory." * Choice, 2020 Outstanding Academic Title * "Full of striking statistics, commentary, and lovely analogies and metaphors. . . . These are engaging, though-provoking, fun-to-read essays that are compact enough that one can get through several in an evening. They will make you consider familiar physical concepts in new ways. All readers will come away richer in their knowledge of the people and circumstances behind how physics arrived at where it is. You will enjoy this book." * American Journal of Physics * "The book not only gives an insight into the development of quantum theory and the lives of the scientists involved, it also explores the complexities of funding, political and sociological considerations, and the influence of the Cold War. . . . [It] provides useful background for physics educators and deserves a place in school science libraries." * Physics Education * "Kaiser-writing in prose that sometimes soars, often intrigues, and always informs-gives us here a remarkable set of vignettes about major developments in physics and cosmology of the past century. His vignettes beautifully integrate science with human history and with insightful descriptions of outsized personalities. This book will be enjoyable and enlightening for a diverse readership: from complete novices in science, to students of science and history, and to professional scientists and historians." -- Kip Thorne, Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, California Institute of Technology, and 2017 Nobel Laureate in Physics "Physicists are people! They have insecurities, love lives, monetary concerns, and political opinions, all while striving to uncover the fundamental workings of reality. Kaiser spins engaging tales that both explain fascinating aspects of physics in a lucid way and illuminate the human beings who worked to discover them." -- Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden "Have you ever wondered why Schroedinger chose such a morbid illustration of quantum physics as a half-dead cat? Want to know how an alleged Soviet spy escaped capture and went on to shake up particle physics? Can you guess what propelled The Tao of Physics to bestseller status? If questions like these spark your curiosity, this book is for you. I can imagine no better guide for an insider's tour of twentieth-century physics than Kaiser. These witty vignettes beautifully illustrate what Kaiser calls the 'doubleness' of scientific research, its ability to bequeath enduring insights while reflecting the quirks and foibles of historical circumstances." -- Deborah R. Coen, author of Climate in Motion "Explaining physics is easier than explaining physicists. In Quantum Legacies, Kaiser succeeds at both." -- George Dyson, author of Turing's Cathedral "What is extraordinary about Kaiser as a writer (and what makes his essays so much fun to read) is not only his ability to animate the range of personalities in these pages, from Einstein to Heisenberg, Schroedinger to Hawking, but also the way he brings the same humanizing impulse to their mind-bending ideas. His talent for uncovering connections between otherworldly ideas and the social and political worlds in which they take shape makes him a simply spellbinding guide to the mysteries of the universe." -- Nell Freudenberger, author of Lost and Wanted "Kaiser is a master writer, and this is some of his finest work. An extraordinary combination of technical science, rich history, and telling anecdote, Quantum Legacies is cutting-edge scholarship rendered in a style equal to any popular science writing. When a non-academic asks me 'what is the history of science?' I will give them this book." -- Matthew Stanley, author of Einstein's War: How Relativity Triumphed amid the Vicious Nationalism of World War I "Friendships and rivalries, the demands of war, the limits of technology . . . these are among the rich universe of forces that conflict and conspire to bring us what we usually gloss over as the inevitable march of scientific progress. Kaiser's book provides a wonderful glimpse behind the curtain into the messier-but far more human-truth of the matter. Beautifully written and extraordinarily well researched, the book makes a profound point about the sociopolitical nature of science that all readers-from physics buffs and historians to students and laypeople-need to hear." -- Amanda Gefter, author of Trespassing on Einstein's LawnTable of ContentsForeword Alan Lightman Introduction Quanta 1 All Quantum, No Solace 2 Life-and-Death: When Nature Refuses to Select 3 Operation: Neutrino 4 Quantum Theory by Starlight Calculating 5 From Blackboards to Bombs 6 Boiling Electrons 7 Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics 8 Training Quantum Mechanics 9 Zen and the Art of Textbook Publishing Matter 10 Pipe Dreams 11 Something for Nothing 12 Higgs Hunting 13 When Fields Collide Cosmos 14 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner 15 Gaga for Gravitation 16 The Other Evolution Wars 17 No More Lonely Hearts 18 Learning from Gravitational Waves 19 A Farewell to Stephen Hawking Acknowledgments Abbreviations Notes Index
£15.20
Yale University Press Reimagining Time
Book SynopsisA quirky, funny, and accessible blend of science and art that delves into the heart of Einstein’s theory of relativityTrade Review“What makes Reimagining Time unique is the complementary talents of its authors, a father-daughter team, who together create an enjoyable yet challenging exposition of [Einstein’s theory of relatvitiy].”—J. F. Burkhart, Choice“[This book’s] aim to provide a non-mathematical but quantitative description of SR—is as laudable as it is challenging. Just maybe it will appeal to enough readers to make it a cult classic.”—Peter Main, Physics Education“Hop aboard the relativity train with this lively and creative introduction to the most significant ideas of Einstein’s relativity. A spirited intellectual adventure!”—David Kaiser, author of Quantum Legacies: Dispatches from an Uncertain World“Understanding Einstein’s theory of special relativity can be hard. In the engaging and artfully illustrated Reimagining Time Tanya and Jeffrey Bub make the effort to understand it immensely enjoyable without compromising on correctness and rigor.”—Anil Ananthaswamy, author of Through Two Doors at Once“Tanya Bub and Jeffrey Bub have done it again! Reimagining Time is a delightful read, resulting in a conceptual understanding of one of the most important paradigm shifts in physics. Totally brilliant!”—Tiffany Nichols, Harvard University“Reimagining Time is a fascinating introduction to the core concepts of special relativity. The unique illustrated format and elegant writing will appeal to readers who have not encountered these ideas before.”—Chad Orzel, author of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog“Most introductions to Einstein's theory of special relativity teach one to accept its puzzling aspects. With clever narration and illustration, Reimagining Time helps you understand relativity.”—Craig Callender, author of What Makes Times Special?
£18.99
National Academies Press Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium
Book SynopsisOffers recommendations for the programs in astronomy and astrophysics, including initiatives for observing the universe. With the goal of optimum value, in this book, a distinguished panel addresses the role of federal research agencies, allocation of funding, training for scientists, and competition and collaboration among space facilities.
£40.00
Cengage Learning, Inc Earth Science
Book SynopsisDesigned in direct response to student surveys, focus groups and interviews, Hendrix/Thompson's EARTH SCIENCE: AN INTRODUCTION, 3rd Edition, delivers concise yet comprehensive coverage in an engaging and accessible format for majors and non-majors alike. The revised text brings concepts to life with current research and examples, a new-and-improved art program, over 150 new photos, and a clean, modern design. A second-to-none supplements package equips you with a wealth of resources, including MindTap--the digital learning solution that enables you to learn on your own terms.Table of Contents1. Earth Systems. Unit I: EARTH MATERIALS AND TIME. 2. Minerals. 3. Rocks. 4. Geologic Time: A Story in the Rocks. 5. Geologic Resources. Unit II: INTERNAL PROCESSES. 6. The Active Earth: Plate Tectonics. 7. Earthquakes and the Earth's Structure. 8. Volcanoes and Plutons. 9. Mountains. Unit III: SURFACE PROCESSES. 10. Weathering, Soil, and Erosion. 11. Fresh Water: Streams, Lakes, Ground Water, and Wetlands. 12. Water Resources. 13. Glaciers and Ice Ages. 14. Deserts and Wind. Unit IV: THE OCEANS. 15. Ocean Basins. 16. Oceans and Coastlines. Unit V: THE ATMOSPHERE. 17. The Atmosphere. 18. Energy Balance in the Atmosphere. 19. Moisture, Clouds, and Weather. 20. Climate. 21. Climate Change. Unit VI: ASTRONOMY. 22. Motions in the Heavens. 23. Planets and their Moons. 24. Stars, Space, and Galaxies.
£59.99
Cambridge University Press The Local Group as an Astrophysical Laboratory
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£125.40
Harvard University Press Ripples in Spacetime
Book SynopsisThe detection of gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime—has already been called the scientific coup of this century. Govert Schilling recounts the struggles that threatened to derail the quest and describes the detector’s astounding precision, weaving far-reaching discoveries about the universe into a gripping story of ambition and perseverance.Trade ReviewIn a sweeping new book, Ripples in Spacetime: Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy, prolific science writer Govert Schilling has achieved the fascinating trifecta of historical and scientific accuracy, a grand sense of wonder and curiosity, and brilliantly accessible storytelling…Ripples in Spacetime goes far beyond the gravitational wave story you've heard over the past few years…It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in learning the scientific, historical, and personal stories behind some of the most incredible scientific advances of the 21st century. As our scientific progress continues, this book will serve as a reminder of how far we’ve already come, how we got there, and what we’re looking forward to with our most hopeful ambitions. -- Ethan Siegel * Forbes *A succinct, accessible, and remarkably timely survey of gravitational-wave astronomy as it developed over the past century…This book is a rare find…The book’s remarkable breadth and accessibility should make it the first piece of reading material for anyone—from high school students to policymakers—with an interest in gravitational waves…Ripples in Spacetime sets itself apart by putting the entire field into perspective—past, present, and future. It conveys a sense of awe about a century of scientific investment and achievement and a sense of excitement for what’s to come. -- Richard O’Shaughnessy * Physics Today *Schilling gives us a lively and readable account of the [gravitational] waves’ discovery... Schilling underlines that this discovery is the opening of a new window on the universe, the beginning of a new branch of science. Astronomers will no longer be limited to observing space through the waves of electricity and magnetism (for example, visible light) entering telescopes, but will be able to observe it through waves of gravity. Galileo would have been amazed. -- Graham Farmelo * The Guardian *A detailed account of the quest to detect gravitational waves. -- James Ryerson * New York Times Book Review *Ripples in Spacetime provides a comprehensive and approachable guide to a complex subject. -- Monica Young * Sky & Telescope *[Ripples in Spacetime] explains complex ideas clearly and entertainingly…It details the personalities, rivalries, collaborations, controversies, setbacks and successes of the century-long quest to test Einstein’s theories. Bang up to date, the book describes science in progress and as a process: how ideas are developed and discoveries made and rejected or confirmed. The best part for me was the detail the book goes into about the first detection and the meticulous protocols in place to scrutinize and eliminate every possible error. Schilling also looks ahead to what we can expect in this whole new field of astronomy. This is a book for everyone who was as excited as I was when the [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory] discovery first broke, but also for anyone who wants to know what all the fuss was about. -- Jenny Winder * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *In September 2015, a new frontier in astronomy beckoned with the first direct detection of gravitational waves, confirming Albert Einstein's prediction almost a century before. Govert Schilling's deliciously nerdy grand tour takes us through compelling backstory, current research, and future expectations. -- Barbara Kiser * Nature *[Ripples in Spacetime] offers the reader a journey that goes beyond its title, exploring and connecting topics such as the cosmic-microwave background and its polarization, radioastronomy and pulsars, supernovae, primordial inflation, gamma-ray bursts and even dark energy… The book gives an interesting (and sometimes surprising) glimpse into the lives, aspirations and mutual interactions of the scientific pioneers in the field of gravitational waves. -- Guillermo Ballestero * CERN Courier *A fascinating story of astronomy…Schilling walks readers through a lucid history of the universe, of general relativity, and of the bumpy search for Einstein’s last major unconfirmed prediction: the existence of gravitational waves…Schilling delivers a lively, expert, mostly comprehensible account, equal parts politics, personality, and science, of the search that ended two years ago…Schilling emphasizes that this is not simply another feather in Einstein’s cap, but a valuable new tool. The early universe was opaque to radiation until 380,000 years after the Big Bang, but gravity waves poured out from almost the beginning, so a new field of ‘gravitational wave astronomy’ can look back almost to the birth of the cosmos. An exciting history of the second great breakthrough of 21st-century physics. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *In this elegant and captivating book Govert Schilling takes us by the hand through a century of scientific adventures to one of the biggest discoveries of history. -- Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor, Institute for Advanced StudyI read with great pleasure this friendly book. The placement of the detection of gravitational waves in the greater history of astronomy and physics is nicely done, and readers not yet familiar with many of the concepts will come away from the book having really learned some of the physics as well as having a sense of what real science and real scientists are like. The scope and organization makes it entertaining and leaves room for surprises. -- David Shoemaker, Spokesperson, LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Senior Research Scientist, MIT Kavli InstituteEngaging. -- Manjit Kumar * New Statesman *Govert’s blend of storytelling, interviews, science, and history creates a fantastic read, and for anyone curious about the development of LIGO and what the future holds, you couldn’t ask for a better story. -- Ethan Siegel * Forbes *
£15.15
Springer Interball in the Istp Program Studies of the Solar WindMagnetosphereIonosphere Interaction 537 Nato Science Series C
Book SynopsisEquator-S: Mission and first results.- Multi-point substorm observations of the outer plasma sheet dynamics on November 13, 1996.- The Wind program: 1998-2000.- Modeling of a prebreakup arc and substorm onset by the minimum-B model.- Closely-spaced multi-satellite project ROY to study small-scale structures during magnetic field annihilation and strong turbulence in critical magnetospheric regions: Results of Phase A.- Heliospheric energetic particle flux variations.- On the Earth's bow shock near solar minimum.- Interball and Geotail observations of flux transfer events.- The high-altitude cusp: Interball observations.- NASA's IMP 8 spacecraft.- Solar wind correlations: Using a solar wind monitor successfully.- The influence of convection on magnetotail variability.- Bow shock position: Observations and models.- The high-and low-latitude boundary layers in the magnetotail.- Magnetospheric response to a hot flow anomaly.- Crossing the heliospheric current sheet.- Cooperative studies between IKI and SwRI for the Interball project.- Study of vortices in the dawn plasma sheet using Interball-1 data.- Plasma and magnetic field variations in the magnetosheath: Interball-1 and ISTP Spacecraft observations.Table of ContentsPreface. Equator-S: Mission and first results; W. Baumjohann, G. Haerendel. Multi-point substorm observations of the outer plasma sheet dynamics on November 13, 1996; N.L. Borodkova, et al. The Wind program: 1998-2000; M. Desch, et al. Modeling of a prebreakup arc and substorm onset by the `minimum-B' method; Y.I. Galperin. Closely-spaced multi-satellite project ROY to study small-scale structures during magnetic field annihilation and strong turbulence in critical magnetospheric regions: Results of Phase A; Y.I. Galperin, et al. Heliospheric energetic particle flux variations; P. Király. On the Earth's bow shock near solar minimum; R.L. Kessel, S.-H. Chen. Interball and Geotail observations of flux transfer events; G.I. Korotova, et al. Relative timing on magnetospheric substorm onset signatures; C.-I. Meng, K. Liou. The high-altitude cusp: Interball observations; Z. Nemecek, et al. NASA's IMP 8 spacecraft; K.I. Paularena, J.H. King. Solar wind correlations: Using a solar wind monitor successfully; K.I. Paularena, et al. The influence of convection on magnetotail variability; V. Peroomian, et al. Bow Shock position: Observations and models; J. Safranková, et al. The high- and low-latitude boundary layers in the magnetotail; I. Sandahl. Magnetospheric response to a hot flow anomaly; D.G. Sibeck, N.L. Borodkova. Crossing the heliospheric current sheet; A. Szabo, et al. Cooperative studies between IKI and SwRI for the Interball project; O.L. Vaisberg, J.H. Waite, Jr. Study of vortices in the dawn plasma sheet using Interball-1 data; O.P. Verkhoglyadova, et al. Plasma and magnetic field variations in the magnetosheath: Interball-1 and ISTP Spacecraft observations; G.N. Zastenker, et al.
£161.99
