Astrophysics Books

Book SynopsisLisa Randall is an American theoretical physicist and the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University. She has received numerous awards and honors and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics. She is the author of several acclaimed books on physics.Trade ReviewA bold intellectual synthesis from one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists, blending cosmology, astronomy, particle physics and the history of life on Earth to suggest the existence of an entirely new force of nature. This book certainly ventures into the unknown, but that's where great physicists like to be. -- Professor Brian CoxFascinating… Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs is a sign that readers of popular science have finally grown up… A very grown-up quest… Randall’s writing is as laid back and unfussy as ever. If you appreciated her clear, straightforward style in Warped Passages and Knocking on Heaven’s Door, you won’t be disappointed by Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs. -- Michael Brooks * New Scientist *Weird and wonderful new book. -- Michael Hanlon * The Sunday Times *Splendid book. -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *Only Lisa Randall can take us on such a thrilling scientific journey—from dinosaurs to DNA to comets to dark matter and to the past and future of our species. Randall’s research is so thorough, the story so powerful, and her storytelling so compelling that I could not put this book down. -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies

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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

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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

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Almost everything we know about the Universe has come from studying the messages carried by light from outer space. Until only a handful of decades ago, this meant observing optical photons in the narrow visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, recent technological developments have now enabled us to extend this range and explore the Universe at radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths. The observations reveal a plethora of exotic phenomena such as young galaxies at the edge of the visible Universe, quasars, pulsars, colliding galaxies, and exploding stars, often at great distances. We have discovered that the Universe is expanding and that the expansion itself is accelerating. Closer to our home planet, we track killer asteroids and comets. Working closely together, observational astronomy and astrophysics have shown us how stars produce their energy, where the chemical elements come Table of ContentsList of illustrations Preface 1: The observable Universe 2: The life and death of stars 3: Big telescopes 4: The radio Universe 5: Observations from space 6: The transient Universe 7: Multi-messenger astronomy 8: A bigger picture Further Reading Index

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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

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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

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Book SynopsisCongress in 2005 directed NASA to request a study from the NRC to assess the federal wake turbulence R&D program. This book gives a description of the problem, an assessment of the organizational challenges to addressing wake turbulence, an analysis of the technical challenges in wake turbulence, and a proposal for a wake turbulence program plan.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 Summary; 3 1 Introduction; 4 2 Organizational Challenges in Wake Turbulence Research; 5 3 Technical Challenges in Wake Turbulence Research; 6 4 Wake Turbulence Program Plan; 7 5 Findings and Recommendations; 8 Appendixes; 9 Appendix A: Statement of Task; 10 Appendix B: Committee Biographies; 11 Appendix C: List of Speakers; 12 Appendix D: Acronyms and Abbreviations; 13 Appendix E: Sample Wake Encounter Reporting Form

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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

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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

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Book SynopsisJacqueline Mitton and Simon Mitton offer the first biography of Vera Rubin, an astronomer who made vital contributions to our understanding of dark matter. An outstanding scientist herself, Rubin also championed women in science, by mentoring, advocating for hiring women faculty, disseminating their research, and recognizing their achievements.Trade ReviewA vivid biography of [a] trailblazing astronomer...The [Mittons] present an accessible and concise history of modern astrophysics alongside the biography, which brims with insight into Rubin's commitment to getting more women into astronomy and her deep fascination with the mysteries of the universe. Stargazers will be delighted by this spirited account. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * A thoughtful and nuanced chronicle of the famed astronomer's life that neither overinflates nor diminishes the importance of her contributions...[A] remarkable portrait...[The Mittons] frame her story within a longer history of humanity's study of galaxies, offering readers a fresh perspective on the history of astronomy in the 20th century. -- Joanna Behrman * Science * By far the most comprehensive review of Vera Rubin's career and all the factors that shaped it. A must read. -- Sandra Faber, astronomer and University Professor, University of California Observatories In this enchanting and engaging biography, Jacqueline and Simon Mitton have captured Vera Rubin's exceptional life, unconventional career trajectory, and enduring scientific legacy. Rubin was an inspiring astronomer and human being whom I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know early in my career. This celebration of her work and life is most welcome and timely. -- Priyamvada Natarajan, astrophysicist and author of Mapping the Heavens This book is fascinating. We see Vera Rubin navigate a varied set of circumstances-in her family, in society, and in the scientific community-which culminated in a US National Observatory being named after her. It's a story that will keep you reading, eagerly, to the last page. -- Jay Pasachoff, astronomer and coauthor of The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium I will never forget the friendly, reassuring presence of Vera Rubin in the front row at my first presentation for the American Astronomical Society, when I was a graduate student. This superb book brings alive her grace and relentless study of the rotation curves of galaxies, as well as her push for women to succeed and excel in astronomy and astrophysics. This book firmly cements Rubin's place within the history of astronomy. -- Carolyn Collins Petersen, author of The Discovery of the Universe

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award, American Astronomical Society"

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a unique approach to learning astrophysics by combining rigorous scientific content with an engaging narrative. It introduces readers to the fundamental principles of stellar evolution, star formation, binary interactions, and gravitational astrophysics through the story of seven stars, the Seven Sisters, who were born in the Pleiades cluster and travel through the Milky Way.The Pleiades can be seen with the naked eye from Earth, near the Orion and Taurus constellations. They are the brightest stars in the cluster and have a rich Greek mythology that accompanies them. The authors use this to educate readers about astrophysical concepts and the often-complex interplay between them.It introduces and explains astrophysical concepts in an accessible and enjoyable way without sacrificing scientific accuracy. A tiered format, supported by color-coded educational boxes, allows readers to explore topics at three levels of depth, making the book suitable for learners with varying backgrounds. The integration of narrative, dialogue, and visualizations illustrate key concepts and reinforce over-arching themes throughout.It will be a valuable resource for senior high school students seeking an introduction to astrophysics, in addition to undergraduate and graduate students looking for a conceptual primer. It can also be enjoyed by educators and enthusiasts interested in the topic.Key features: Melds together education and fiction to offer an introduction to stellar and gravitational astrophysics. Structured with tiered, colour-coded boxes for three levels of conceptual depth. Incorporates a story and character-driven dialogue alongside numerous illustrations and visualizations to enhance understanding.

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Book SynopsisThe determination of stellar ages is crucial for the development of our understanding of the universe and for constraining theoretical models of galaxy formation and planetary system evolution. The ages of stars provide scientists with timescales to identify the relevant physical processes responsible for the development of the cosmic structures.Age-Dating Stars describes in a simple, yet rigorous manner, the vast array of techniques used to determine stellar ages. It also explores how these ages inform our knowledge about planets, star clusters, galaxies and even distant galaxies that we cannot resolve into individual stars. Up-to-date with the latest research and technologies in the field, it discusses open problems that remain to be pondered in future research. This second edition includes a new, comprehensive introduction to the main concepts of asteroseismology, the use of asteroseismic observations for age determination and for probing the internal structure of stars, an updated analysis of the uncertainties on the age estimates, new results about the ages of stellar populations in our galaxy and high-redshift galaxies gathered with observations from the Gaia satellite and the James Webb Space Telescope, and the new/upcoming observational facilities relevant to the subject.â Presents an entertaining and accessible approach whilst also providing a rigorous and comprehensive presentation of the subject.â Describes how to unveil the ages of stellar populations in the universe, even in distant galaxies that we cannot resolve into individual stars.â Contains historical notes about these techniques, outstanding major problems, and a discussion on future developments in the field.It will be of interest to undergraduates and graduate students studying astronomy, and to readers from diverse backgrounds.

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Book SynopsisWhen scientists peer through a telescope at the distant stars in outer space or use a particle-accelerator to analyze the smallest components of matter, they discover that the same laws of physics govern the whole universe at all times and all places. Physicists call the eternal, ubiquitous constancy of the laws of physics symmetry. Symmetry is the basic underlying principle that defines the laws of nature and hence controls the universe. This all-important insight is one of the great conceptual breakthroughs in modern physics and is the basis of contemporary efforts to discover a grand unified theory to explain all the laws of physics. Nobel Laureate Leon M. Lederman and physicist Christopher T. Hill explain the supremely elegant concept of symmetry and all its profound ramifications to life on Earth and the universe at large in this eloquent, accessible popular science book. They not only clearly describe concepts normally reserved only for physicists and mathematicians, but they also instill an appreciation for the profound beauty of the universe's inherent design. Central to the story of symmetry is an obscure, unpretentious, but extremely gifted German mathematician named Emmy Noether. Though still little known to the world, she impressed no less a scientist than Albert Einstein, who praised her "penetrating mathematical thinking." In some of her earliest work she proved that the law of the conservation of energy was connected to the idea of symmetry and thus laid the mathematical groundwork for what may be the most important concept of modern physics. Lederman and Hill reveal concepts about the universe, based on Noether's work, that are largely unknown to the public and have wide-reaching implications in connection with the Big Bang, Einstein's theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and many other areas of physics. Through ingenious analogies and illustrations, they bring these astounding notions to life. This book will open your eyes to a universe you never knew existed.Table of ContentsIntroduction: What is Symmetry?; Children of the Titans; Time & Energy; Emmy Noether; Symmetry, Space & Time; Noether's Theorem; Inertia; Relativity; Reflections; Broken Symmetry; Quantum Mechanics; The Hidden Symmetry of Light; Quarks & Leptons; An Epilogue for Educators; Notes; Index.

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Book SynopsisIn 1963 Stephen Hawking was given two years to live. Defying all the odds, he died in March 2018 at age seventy-six as the most celebrated scientist in the world. This carefully researched and updated biography and tribute gives a rich picture of Hawking's remarkable life - his childhood, the heart-rending beginning of his struggle with motor neurone disease, his ever-increasing international fame, and his long personal battle for survival in pursuit of a scientific understanding of the universe. From more recent years, Kitty Ferguson describes his inspiring leadership at the London Paralympic Games, the release of the film The Theory of Everything, his continuing work on black holes and the origin of the universe, the discovery of 'supertranslations', and the astounding 'Starshot' program. Here also are his intense concern for the future of the Earth and his use of his celebrity to fight for environmental and humanitarian causes, and, finally, a ground-breaking paper he was working on at the time of his death, in which he took issue with some of his own earlier theories. Throughout, Ferguson summarizes and explains the cutting-edge science in which Hawking was engaged and offers vivid first-hand descriptions of his funeral in Cambridge and the interment of his ashes in Westminster Abbey. This is an amazing and revealing tribute, assessing Hawking's legacy in and out of science.

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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 *

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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.

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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

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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.

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Book SynopsisThis textbook is a pedagogic introduction to a number of phenomena employing fluid mechanics. Beginning with basic concepts and conservation laws for neutral and charged fluids, the authors apply and develop them to understand aerodynamics, locomotion of micro-organisms, waves in air and water, shock waves, hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic instabilities, stars and black holes, blood flow in humans, and superfluids. The approach is to consider various striking topics on fluid mechanics, without losing necessary mathematical rigor. The book balances the qualitative explanations with formal treatment, in a compact manner. A special focus is given to the important and difficult subject of turbulence and the book ends with a discussion on turbulence in quantum fluids. The textbook is dotted by a number of illustrative examples, mostly from real life, and exercises. The textbook is designed for a one semester course and addresses students at undergraduate and graduate level in physics or engineering, who want to research in the fields as diverse as aeronautics, meteorology, cosmology, biomechanics, and mathematical physics. It is requested knowledge of an undergraduate level course on mathematical methods to better understand the topics presented here.Table of Contents

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Book SynopsisThis most up-to-date, one-stop reference combines coverage of both theory and observational techniques, with introductory sections to bring all readers up to the same level. Written by outstanding researchers directly involved with the scientific program of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), the book begins with a brief review of general relativity before going on to describe the physics of gravitational waves and the astrophysical sources of gravitational radiation. Further sections cover gravitational wave detectors, data analysis, and the outlook of gravitational wave astronomy and astrophysics.Table of ContentsIntroduction Prologue: Tides in Newton's gravity/Relativity 1. A brief review of General Relativity 2. Gravitational waves 3. Beyond the Newtonian limit 4. Sources of gravitational radiation 5. Gravitational wave detectors 6. Gravitational wave data analysis Epilogue: Gravitational wave astronomy and astrophysics A. Gravitational wave detector data B. Post-Newtonian Binary Inspiral Waveform

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Book SynopsisSten Odenwald is the Director of the STEM Resource Development project at NASA, a long-time astronomer and he is passionate about promoting science education. Over the course of his career, he has taught at Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution, he has appeared on TV for National Geographic and has written numerous articles for magazines ranging from Astronomy magazine to Scientific American. He also runs the blog 'The Astronomy Café', where he seeks to bring cosmology and astronomy to a wider audience.

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Book SynopsisSTEPHEN HAWKING was a brilliant theoretical physicist and is generally considered to have been one of the world's greatest thinkers. He held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge for thirty years and is the author of A Brief History of Time which was an international bestseller. His other books for the general reader include A Briefer History of Time, the essay collection Black Holes and Baby Universe, The Universe in a Nutshell, The Grand Design, and Black Holes: The BBC Reith Lectures.He died on 14 March, 2018.Trade ReviewThis book marries a child's wonder to a genius's intellect. We journey into Hawking's universe, while marvelling at his mind * The Sunday Times *A Brief History of Time:'It is the publishing sensation of the past decade' * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisFritz Zwicky was one of the most inventive and iconoclastic scientists of the twentieth century. Among other accomplishments, he was the first to infer the existence of dark matter. He also clashed with better-known peers and became a pariah in the scientific community. John Johnson, Jr.,’s biography brings this tempestuous maverick alive.Trade Review[An] engaging biography…Reveals a life that is far deeper and more nuanced than the caricature…A sympathetic reassessment of his overall legacy. * Wall Street Journal *A lively new biography…Johnson has written a book that explains the astronomical facts simply and clearly without using technical jargon. But the emphasis is on the human characters, not on the science. -- Freeman Dyson * New York Review of Books *[A] spirited biography…Johnson’s book is rich enough to inspire interesting meditations on research, idiosyncrasy—and reputation. * Nature *Of all the science biographies that came out in 2019, this one, about the legendary scientist Fritz Zwicky, was far and away my favorite…[A] gem of a book…If you enjoy biographies of scientists, particularly underappreciated ones, you'll want to pick this one up for sure. -- Ethan Siegel * Forbes *Interesting to read and provides an insight into a rich, complicated character and his engagement with the world he was part of. -- Chris North * BBC Sky at Night *A detailed and insightful biography. The story certainly captures both the way in which Zwicky liked to see himself and the way in which some leading physicists responded to him. Others, however, took offense and did their best to ignore the astronomer, both during his lifetime and afterwards—one of the reasons why he is largely forgotten today. -- Andrew Robinson * Physics World *A well-rounded biography of the brilliant, contrarian scientist…Stands as an evenhanded examination of a pugnacious and imaginative genius, and it should spark new interest in Zwicky. * Publishers Weekly *[An] excellent biography of Zwicky. -- Jeff Foust * Space Review *This is a fitting biography of one of the most brilliant, acerbic, and under-appreciated astrophysicists of the twentieth century. John Johnson has delved deeply into a rich and eventful life, and produced a rollicking account of how Fritz Zwicky split his time between picking fights with his colleagues and discovering amazing things about our universe. -- Sean Carroll, author of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe ItselfZwicky is everything a good science history book should be. With an eccentric and brilliant scientist at its heart, this book illuminates the very human nature at the center of all the best scientific discoveries. -- Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author of The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New YorkThis book is absolutely marvelous—I really could not put it down. -- James Gunn, Princeton UniversityWell researched…An enjoyable read. -- Helge Kragh * Physics Today *Perhaps the most significant gadfly to inspire, annoy, challenge, and provoke astronomy in the 20th century…I ended my read through Johnson’s book glad that, from time to time, such mavericks come along to create a bit of intellectual chaos. -- David Stickland * The Observatory *

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Book SynopsisWorld authority on astrophysics, Sir Martin Rees, takes us on a journey through all the things which could wipe out mankind in the near future. From asteroids to disease to scientific discoveries gone wrong (from nanobots to the large Hadron collider) these are scenarios from disaster movies, analysed with a serious scientific eye. Some of these things definitely won''t happen, some genuinely might this is one book you won''t be able to put down and which you''ll never forget.Trade ReviewSir Martin is no doom merchant ... His prognostications, written in laymen's language, are all the more chilling for the reasonable tone in which they are expressed * Sunday Telegraph *Alarming, certainly, but alarmist never - Rees delivers his terrible prophecies with donnish understatement * The Evening Standard *One of the most provocative and unsettling books I have read for many years ... That a scientist so distinguished as Rees should air these fierce anxieties is a sign that something is amiss -- J G Ballard * Daily Telegraph *It matters that one should understand the provenance of this important and disturbing book. It is not another futurological diatribe saying that the end is nigh, but a lucid, calm, profoundly well-informed work by a distinguished scientist, whose humanity - evidenced by a serious ethical commitment and a quiet sense of humour- balances the dispassionate logic with which he surveys his subject: the multitude of threats facing humanity in the twenty-first century from error and terror in the nuclear, biological and environmental spheres * Literary Review *Rees does the maths of risk beautifully, as well as explaining the vital importance of understanding the fragility and cosmic smallness of the human present... The odds are small, but the risks are staggering, and that is Rees's excellent point in this thought-provoking book * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisAre the physical laws of our universe finely tuned, such that life can exist? What does this imply about how our universe formed? Questions like these are examined in Nature''s Balancing Act, presented for a wide audience. From the Big Bang to present-day research, ranging from gravitational waves to experiments on antimatter, our physical laws are shown to be slightly off balance, allowing life to exist. In its opening chapters, the following is asked: What would happen if the strong nuclear force, which binds protons and neutrons together, were slightly stronger or weaker? Would life still be possible? We know today that pushing the nuclear force off balance by just a few percent would create a different universe, unlike our own. Also, for life to exist, there must be a slight imbalance in the way matter and antimatter were created in the Big Bang. If matter and antimatter were exactly in balance, then our universe would not exist. These are just two examples of the fine tuning of physical laws that must happen for the cosmological conditions to be right for life to exist. If the universe wasn''t just so, you wouldn''t be here to read about it!Even with a favorable universe, how did life on Earth begin? How did it survive all this time without being wiped out by a cosmic event? Can human life continue to exist for millions of years, or will we cause our own extinction? These topics are considered in the latter chapters of the book and provide a fascinating look at our existence on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] lovely, utterly original book. . . . This intimate account of the life and thought of a physicist is one of the nicest scientific books I have ever read—personal and honest, clear and informative, entertaining and difficult to put down."---Alejandro Gangui, American Scientist"Gorgeously written."---Mary Carmichael, Newsweek"Highly original. . . . Few scientists are capable of putting their understanding and experiences into words as effectively."---Peter Coles, Nature"Science as it is lived. . . . [Levin's] book is a gift."---Corey S. Powell, Discover"Gives a personal resonance to scientists’ attempts to understand the mysteries of the universe." * Washington Post *"Levin not only tours the wilder reaches of cosmology, but she also bares her soul." * New Scientist *"If the universe is infinite, then its possibilities are infinite as well. But in How the Universe Got Its Spots, the astrophysicist Janna Levin insists that infinity works as a hypothetical concept only, and that it is not found in nature."---Lauren Porcaro, New Yorker"Levin unpacks the technicalities with a skill honed from giving many lectures on the subject, and it is fascinating to read. . . . A book to be applauded."---Andrew Crumey, The Scotsman"[A] touchingly personal account."---Jim McClean, The Herald (Glasgow)"Levin interweaves enlightening insights into the most profound enigmas of space, time and infinity with reflections on her struggle to balance her personal and professional lives. The result suggests a blend of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and The History of Time."---Dan Kincaid, Arizona Republic "The intellectual-emotional balance, and the finely tuned prose, are what makes this different from the very many other books on cosmology. And Levin has found an interesting way to do this; the book is in the form of letters to her mother." * Globe and Mail *"How the Universe Got Its Spots is a genuine attempt to break down barriers, both intellectual and emotional, between scientists and their wished-for audience."---Ken Grimes and Alison Boyle, Astronomy

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Book SynopsisCosmology is a relatively new science, but cosmological questions are as old as mankind. Turning philosophical and metaphysical problems into problems that physics can treat, and hopefully solve, has been an achievement of the twentieth century. Modern Cosmology brings together contributions from a number of outstanding scientists currently working in various research fields in cosmology. Topics covered range over several different aspects of modern cosmology, from observational matters to advanced theoretical speculations.Trade Review"The editor ties the diverse contributions together in an excellent introductory chapter, tracing the historical development of cosmology … The content is most appropriate for graduate students and researchers. This book is highly recommended for academic collections supporting extensive research in astronomy or astrophysics." -E-STREAMS, Vol.5, No. 9 "… the book covers most of the interesting and active areas of cosmological research … at an appropriate level for new postgraduate students. I would recommend this book as an interesting snapshot of ongoing activity." -Peter Coles, General Relativity and Gravitation "This book is a heterogeneous compilation of articles based on lectures, mostly from theorists, describing both the foundations and the present status of cosmology …They are a pleasure to read and may be extremely useful to Ph.D. students and even researchers in other fields … In summary, I think the book is a nice compilation of the status of cosmology in the year 2000. It gives the right perspective of what is to come in the next few years, or even decades." -Juan Garcia-Bellido, CERN Courier "In short, the book has substantial content of modern cosmology from observational matters to theoretical models as well as from the basics to development. I would recommend this book to those who are working on and interested in this subject." -Yuan-Zhong Zhang "This book is highly recommended for academic collections supporting extensive research in astronomy or astrophysics." -E-STREAMS, Vol. 5, No. 9 "For those who wish to appreciate the breadth of current research in this area, and for those planning to embark on this type of research, the book provides an excellent overview of the current state of the art." -Professor A. Hibbert, Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland "Both John Peacock and George Ellis (no relation!) give excellent summaries of cosmological physics. Peacock's contribution, in particular (cover 100 pages, by far the longest) is masterly, elegantly summarizing recent developments in large-scale structure from the 2nF survey (in which he is involved) to progress in studying fluctuations in the microwave background." -Richard EllisTable of ContentsContents. 1 The physics of the early Universe (an overview). 2 An introduction to the physics of cosmology. 3 Cosmological Models. 4 inflationary Cosmology and Creation of Matter in the Universe. References. 5 Supergravity and Cosmology. 6 The Cosmic Microwave Background. References. 7 Dark Matter search with innovative techniques. 8 Signature for signals from the Dark Universe. 9 Neutrino oscillations: a phenomenological overview. 10 Highlights in Modern Observational Cosmology. References. 11 Clustering in the Universe: from Highly Nonlinear Structures to Homogeneity. References. 12 The debate of galaxy space distribution: an overview. References. 13 Gravitational lensing. References. 14 Numerical Simulations in Cosmology. References.

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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.

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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.

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Book SynopsisThis textbook provides an accessible introduction to the basic concepts of relativistic cosmology and the standard big bang model of cosmology, along with an introduction to quantum field theory and the standard model of particle physics.Readers are guided through the key concepts associated with the standard model of cosmology and the standard model of particle physics, providing them with the basic foundation needed to understand current research and literature on the physics of the early universe and modern particle physics.It culminates with an introduction to the physics of the early universe and its imprint on the large-scale structure and the cosmic microwave background. It assumes a basic understanding of quantum mechanics, classical mechanics and electromagnetism. It is aimed at advanced undergraduates and first year beginning graduate students studying particle physics and/or cosmology.Key Features:â Provides a summary of the state-of-the

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Book SynopsisThe Universe is filled with beautiful galaxies, made of stars, gas and dark matter, that formed during nearly fourteen billion years since the Big Bang. This advanced textbook, bridging the gap between introductory and specialized texts, reveals the complex physical processes of galaxy formation and evolution within a cosmological context.Trade Review'An impressive achievement which presents a detailed account of the remarkable progress in our understanding of how galaxies formed and evolved over the past 13 billion years. The authors have brought together the latest theoretical and observational developments in this fast-paced subject carefully explaining with helpful illustrations the underlying physical concepts.' Richard Ellis, University College London'This is an admirable introduction to the formation of the galaxies, a key aspect of modern cosmology, and blends fundamental aspects of astrophysics with recent observational constraints.' Joseph Silk, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris'With a broad sweep of physics and a wide canvas, this book is pitched at the level of master's and graduate students. From diffuse gas through dark matter haloes to galaxies today, this is an excellent text to learn the narrative of modern theories of galaxy formation.' Wyn Evans, University of Cambridge'Our picture of galaxy formation and evolution, though still tentative and incomplete, is one of the major scientific achievements of the past half century. But seeing this picture in its full glory has mostly been the privilege of professional researchers in the field. Cimatti, Fraternali, and Nipoti have aimed to open the view to astrophysics students at the master's level, and they have succeeded brilliantly. Their clear, comprehensive, and readable textbook will guide astrophysicists and other interested scientists all the way to the frontiers of this exciting field.' Michael Fall, Space Telescope Science Institute, BaltimoreTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Introduction; 2. The cosmological framework; 3. Present-day galaxies as a benchmark for evolutionary studies; 4. Present-day star-forming galaxies; 5. Present-day early-type galaxies; 6. The environment of present-day galaxies; 7. Formation, evolution and properties of dark matter halos; 8. Main ingredients of galaxy formation theory; 9. From recombination to reionisation; 10. Theory of galaxy formation; 11. Observing galaxy evolution; Appendix A. Acronyms; Appendix B. Constants and units; Appendix C. Astronomical compendium; Appendix D. Physics compendium; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisA quantitative introduction to the Solar System and planetary systems science for advanced undergraduate students, this engaging textbook explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. The authors provide an overview of our current knowledge and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of research in planetary science and astrobiology today. This updated edition contains the latest data, new references and planetary images and an extensively rewritten chapter on current research on exoplanets. The text concludes with an introduction to the fundamental properties of living organisms and the relationship that life has to its host planet. With more than 200 exercises to help students learn how to apply the concepts covered, this textbook is ideal for a one-semester or two-quarter course for undergraduate students.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Dynamics; 3. Physics and astrophysics; 4. Solar heating and energy transport; 5. Planetary atmospheres; 6. Surfaces and interiors; 7. Sun, solar wind and magnetic fields; 8. Giant planets; 9. Terrestrial planets and the moon; 10. Planetary satellites; 11. Meteorites; 12. Minor planets and comets; 13. Planetary rings; 14. Extrasolar planets; 15. Planet formation; 16. Planets and life; Index.

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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.

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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.

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Book SynopsisIn the course of the development of electromagnetic, weak and strong interactions, the concept of (internal) gauge invariance grew up and established itself as an unavoidable dynamical principle in particle physics. It is less known that the principle of equivalence, and the basic dynamical properties of the gravitational interaction can also be expressed as a (spacetime) gauge symmetry.Gravitation and Gauge Symmetries sheds light on the connection between the intrinsic structure of gravity and the principle of gauge invariance, which may lead to a consistent unified field theory. The first part of the book gives a systematic account of the structure of gravity as a theory based on spacetime gauge symmetries. Some basic properties of space, time, and gravity are reviewed in the first, introductory chapter. The next chapter deals with elements of global Poincar nd conformal symmetries, which are necessary for the exposition of their localizations; the structure of the correspondTrade Review"The book is very well written. It provides a very good pedagogical survey of the gravity from the point of view of gauge theories that are very successful in explaining the other physical interactions. Basic ideas of the most recent theories of unification of all fundamental physical interactions are explored in an effective way. The book contains very useful examples and exercises making understanding of presented ideas easier, and they extend the results discussed in the text.- Zdenek Stuchlik, Acta Physica Slovaca "The experience and maturity of the writer are manifest in the clear and pedagogical style of exposition. The subject is a difficult one and the going is tough, but the author does an excellent job of making the topics as digestible as possible, without sacrifice of detail and rigor. Mathematical propriety is maintained, and at the same time there are many illuminations of physical intuition, essential to keep the interest of the physicist alive … the book is an excellent introduction to the general area of gauge symmetries and gravity …. this volume is handsomely produced and printed on good quality paper, making a pleasant and useful addition to a theoretician's library."- Lewis Ryder, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK"This book is a rather broad scope, intending to shed light upon the intrinsic structure of gravity and gauge invariance … This book is accompanied by 13 useful appendices, which give, inter alia, some more details on the de Sitter gauge theory, the Ashtekar reformulation of general relativity, and Chern-Simons models in three dimensions ... Certainly, Milutin Blagojevic's book fills a gap in the current literature and will be useful for students and researchers of gravity."Table of ContentsThe Rise of Gauge Theory of Gravity Up to 1961: From Special to General Relativity Theory; Analyzing General Relativity Theory; A Fresh Start by Yang - Mills and Utiyama; Poincare Gauge Theory: Einstein - Cartan( - Sciama - Kibble) Theory as a Viable Gravitational Theory; General Structure of Poincare Gauge Theory (Including Quadratic Lagrangians); Translational Gauge Theory; Fallacies About Torsion; Extending the Gauge Group of Gravity: Poincare Group Plus Scale Transformations: Weyl - Cartan Gauge Theory of Gravity; From the Poincare to the Affine Group: Metric-Affine Gravity; Conformal Gauge Theory of Gravity; (Anti-)de Sitter Gauge Theory of Gravity; From the Square Root of Translations to the Super-Poincare Group; Specific Subjects of Metric-Affine Gravity and Poincare Gauge Theory: Hamiltonian Structure; Equations of Motion for Matter; Cosmological Models; Exact Solutions; Poincare Gauge Theory in Three Dimensions; Dislocations and Torsion; The Yang Episode: A Historical Case Study.

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Book SynopsisIn 1916, a nearly unknown German-born theoretical physicist named Albert Einstein had developed his theory of relativity, but hadn't yet been able to prove it. The only way to do that was through the clear view and measurement of a solar eclipse. In May of 1919, one of the longest total solar eclipses of the 20th century was visible for almost seven minutes in the Southern Hemisphere. And so, two teams of intrepid astronomers set out on a treacherous journey-one to a remote town in Brazil, the other to the small African island of Principe. Their task was to answer the question: during the eclipse, would the stars' light waves follow Newton's law of gravitation, or Einstein's new theory of relativity?Proving Einstein Right is an epic chronicle of this decade-long mission. Hindered by everything from cloudy weather to world war, and travelling halfway around the globe, four men observed a solar eclipse that would catapult Albert Einstein to fame, set the framework for the Big Bang theory, and forever change the way we look at the universe.

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