Astrophysics Books

Book SynopsisThe Big Picture.- A Survey of Space and Time.- A Summary of Physics.- The Cosmic Expansion.- Cosmic Background Radiation.- Primordial Matter.- The Formation of Structure.- The Beginning.- The Future.Trade ReviewFrom the reviews: "The explosion of data and theory in cosmology has led to a profusion of books about modern cosmology written for non-experts. Craig Hogan's cosmic primer ranks among the best: it is a gem." NATURE "… A book for those who already know something about the subject and want to be reminded of how all the jigsaw pieces fit together. And it is a priceless window into the mind of one of the major players in present-day cosmology." New Scientist Table of ContentsThe Big Picture.- A Survey of Space and Time.- A Summary of Physics.- The Cosmic Expansion.- Cosmic Background Radiation.- Primordial Matter.- The Formation of Structure.- The Beginning.- The Future.

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Book SynopsisThis star guide enables amateur astronomers to focus on a class of object, and using an observation list that begins with the easiest object, find and move progressively over a period of months to more difficult targets.Table of ContentsPreface and Thanks.- Chapter 1: Some Background.- Chapter 2: The Stars.- Chapter 3: Star Clusters.- Chapter 4: Nebulae.- Chapter 5: Galaxies.- Chapter 6: Faint, Far Away and Invisible.- Chapter 7: Naked-Eye Objects.- Appendix.- Index of Objects.

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Book Synopsis"How to Observe the Sun Safely, 2nd Edition" gives all the basic information and advice the amateur astronomer needs to get started in observing our own ever-fascinating star.Trade ReviewFrom the book reviews:“In Macdonald’s book the reader finds different methods and a variety of equipment that can be used for observing our nearest star without any damage to their eyesight and also gets ideas on what to do with the observations. … I found the book very useful … . If you’re thinking of starting to observe the Sun, this is a great book to get more information about all the available options.” (Kadri Tinn, AstroMadness.com, September, 2014)Table of ContentsPreface.- Chapter 1: Our Sun.- Chapter 2: Equipment for Observing the Sun.- Chapter 3: What Can We See on the Sun?.- Chapter 4: Solar Position Measurements.- Chapter 5: Measuring Solar Activity.- Chapter 6: Observing the Chromosphere.- Chapter 7: Imaging the Sun with a Digital Camera.- Chapter 8: Webcam Imaging and Image Processing.- Appendix A: Building a Solar Projectin Box.- Appendix B: Equipment Suppliers.- Appendix C: Solar Observing Organizations.- Appendix D: Further Reading.- Index.

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Book SynopsisI General Introduction.- 1. Na??r al-D?n al-?01B6;s?.- 2. The Tadhkira.- II Edition and Translation.- III Commentary Figures.- IV Commentary.- V Critical Apparatus.- VI Appendices and Indices.Table of ContentsI General Introduction.- §1. Na??r al-D?n al-?01B6;s?.- §2. The Tadhkira.- II Edition and Translation.- III Commentary Figures.- IV Commentary.- V Critical Apparatus.- VI Appendices and Indices.

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Book SynopsisThis guide provides useful insight for first-time telescope buyers as well as experienced amateurs. It examines the advantages and disadvantages of different types of telescopes, mountings, and accessories-ranging from refractors and reflectors to computer controlled drives and CCD cameras. The author also covers observation techniques, photographic equipment, astronomical software, as well as equipment care and maintenance.Table of Contents1 Fundamentals for Beginners.- Using Low Magnification.- Using High Magnification.- Formulae.- Jargon.- Eyepiece Sizes.- 2 Refractors and Reflectors.- Achromatic Refractors.- Apochromatic Refractors.- Semi-Apochromatic Refractors.- Refractors or Reflectors?.- Newtonian Reflectors.- Long-Focus Newtonians.- Collimation.- Dobsonians.- Buying a Telescope.- Beginners’ Telescopes.- Buyer Beware!.- High-Quality Refractors.- Apochromats for the Connoisseur.- Other Telescope Considerations.- 3 Catadioptrics, Cassegrains and Schmidt-Cassegrains.- Cassegrains.- Schmidt-Cassegrains.- Electronic Drive Control.- Periodic Error Correction.- Autoguiders.- Summary.- Maksutovs.- Schiefspieglers.- 4 Binoculars.- Stands for Binoculars.- Image-Stabilised Binoculars.- 5 Eyepieces.- Magnification.- Lowest Practical Magnification.- Highest Practical Magnification.- Practical Considerations.- Comet Seeking.- Focusing-Tube Diameter.- Real Field Limitations.- Popular Commercial Eyepieces.- High-Definition Eyepieces.- Barlow Lenses.- Eyepiece Projection.- Illuminated-Reticle Eyepieces.- Commercial Guiding Eyepieces.- 6 Telescope Mountings.- The Equatorial Mounting.- Commercial Telescope Mounting Systems.- Fork Mountings.- German Equatorial Mountings.- The Split-Ring Equatorial.- Commercial Drive Systems.- Home-Made Drives and Unusual Mountings.- Electronic Drive Design.- Unusual Mountings.- Poncet Platforms.- Alt-azimuth Field De-Rotators.- 7 Accessories.- Finders.- Unity-Power Finders.- Low-Power Finders.- Guide Telescopes.- Off-Axis Guiders.- Horses for Courses.- Photographic Equipment - Film versus CCD.- Undriven Astrophotography.- Simple Tracking.- Dew.- Film, Meteor-Photography Equipment and Wide-Field Camera Equipment.- Satellite Trails.- Medium-Format Cameras.- Fish-Eye Lenses.- Developing and Printing.- Developing Tanks.- Developing Colour Film.- Black-and-White Printing.- Cold Cameras and Film Hypersensitising.- Camera Interfaces.- Focusers.- Commercial Schmidt-Cassegrain Focusing.- Manual Guiding and Off-Axis Guiders.- Guiding for Comet Photography.- A Comet Marathon.- Coma Correctors.- A Final Word on Focusers.- Filters.- Planetary Filters.- Venus.- Mars.- Jupiter and Saturn.- The Moon.- Deep Sky Filters.- Comet Filters.- Photographic Filters.- Photometric Filters for CCDs.- Schmidt Cameras and Astrographs.- 8 Electronic Imaging and the Electronics Revolution.- CCDs.- The Basics.- Camera Design.- CCDs Compared with Film.- Disadvantages of CCDs.- Image Scale and Pixel Size.- Buying a CCD Camera.- Starlight Xpress.- Colour Imaging.- SBIG and Meade.- Auto-Slewing with a Schmidt-Cassegrain and a CCD Camera.- SBIG Autoguiding.- Other Manufacturers.- Using a CCD Camera.- Understanding and Processing the Digital Image.- A Dark Frame.- Background Brightness.- Flat-Field.- Diffraction Focusers.- Useful Processing Routines.- Unsharp Masking.- Deconvolution.- Median Filters.- Non-Linear Contrast-Stretch.- Image Formats.- Astrometry.- Photometry.- 9 Image Processing, Planetarium and Telescope Control Software.- QMips 1.81 by Christian Buil.- MIRA AL by Axiom.- Hidden Image by Sehgal.- CCD Astrometry.- Paintshop Pro.- Adobe Photoshop.- Printers and Scanners.- Scanning Photographs.- Planetarium Software.- Redshift 2.- The Sky.- Real Sky.- Guide.- Megastar.- Starry Night Deluxe.- NGCView 5.02.- Universe Explorer.- Voyager II.- Comet Explorer.- The Astronomer Software.- Planetarium Telescope Control.- 10 Video Astronomy.- Image Intensifiers.- 11 Observatories.- The Simplest Solution.- Simple Observatories.- If It Can Go Wrong.- Observatory Domes.- 12 Equipment for Observing the Sun.- Eyepiece Projection.- Direct Solar Observation.- Observing in White Light.- Solar Filters: Inconel.- Solar Filters: Mylar.- Seeing.- Hydrogen-Alpha Equipment.- Viewing Eclipses.- 13 Star Atlases and Deep Sky Atlases.- Appendix 1 Dealers, Bibliography and URLs.- Equipment Suppliers.- Quality Binocular Mounting Suppliers.- Societies Worth Joining.- Internet URLs.- Books.- Appendix 2 Photographic and Visual Magnitude Limits.

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Book SynopsisAstronomers and students interested in studying the Sun require a thorough understanding of the proper techniques and equipment. Safety precautions are paramount, as the intensity of the heat and light can instantly blind the untrained observer. In this book, Kitchin provides all the information needed for safe observation as well as novel techniques that will make solar observation a rewarding experience.Trade ReviewFrom the reviews: "This book is part of a series aimed at the newcomer to astronomy. In many respects the author fulfills this aim very well … . The book is well illustrated with drawings and photographs – over 30 of which are in colour. … If … you are keen on becoming a solar observer, make a space on your bookshelf for this book. Or if, like me, you are established in solar observing, keep it as a reference for when you take up CCD imaging … ." (Brian Halls, Astronomy Now, April, 2002) "This book forms part of Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series … . it discusses the safety precautions that need to be taken in such a way as to be informative and not to scare someone from making solar observations. … The book also gives sufficient information for someone, for example, to attempt taking photographs or CCD images of the Sun. … I think this book will encourage amateur astronomers to take up solar observing … ." (Peter Meadows, The Astronomer, Vol. 38 (450), 2001) "This book deserves to be in every observational astronomer’s possession. In just over 200 pages, excellent and clear descriptions, advice on solar observing methods – most of them within the reach of amateur astronomers – are given. … The many illustrations and diagrams are all relevant and well chosen, as are the (not too many!) equations. … This book is wonderful value and should encourage all amateur astronomers to observe our nearest star. A nice, warm welcome to this book." (Richard Bailey, Popular Astronomy, October, 2001)Table of Contents1 The Sun — What to See and Why.- Beginnings.- Sunspots.- Sunspot Cycle.- Limb Darkening, Granulation and Faculae.- Limb Darkening.- Granulation.- Faculae.- Narrow Band Observations.- Chromospheric Network.- Prominences and Filaments.- Flares.- Eclipses.- 2 General Telescopic Observing Techniques.- Full Aperture Filters.- Filter Basics.- Telescope Basics.- Full Aperture Solar Filters.- Projection.- Telescopes.- Binoculars.- Other Approaches.- Reflection.- Solar Diagonals.- Sextants.- Optimising Your Telescope.- Diffraction.- Aberration.- Optics.- Seeing.- Stray Light.- 3 White Light Observing.- Sunspots.- Limb Darkening.- Granulation.- Faculae.- 4 Recording Your Observations.- Drawing.- Photography.- Projected Images.- Full Aperture Filters.- Magnified Imaging.- Conventional Cameras.- CCD Cameras.- Image Processing.- Data Reduction.- Image Enhancement.- Video Cameras.- 5 Observing Programmes.- The Sunspot Cycle.- Active Regions.- Solar Rotation.- 6 Unaided Observations.- Projected Images.- Filters.- Full Aperture Filters.- Welder’s Goggles.- 7 Eclipses.- Eclipses.- Eclipse Expeditions.- Naked Eye Observing.- Binoculars and Telescopes.- Visual Observations.- Imaging.- Photographic and Digital Cameras.- Astronomical CCD Cameras.- Video Cameras.- Shadow Band Imaging.- Observing Programme.- Specialist Instrumentation.- Radial Density Filters.- Slitless Spectroscopes.- Transits.- 8 Specialist Instruments.- Narrow Band Filters.- H? Filters.- Lyot Monochromators.- Spectroscopy.- A Spectroscope.- Prominence Spectroscope.- Spectrohelioscope.- Coronagraph.- Solar Telescopes.- 9 Radio Telescopes.- 10 The Limits of Solar Observation.- Magnetic Fields.- Spacecraft.- Solar Oscillations.- Solar Image Gallery.- Appendix 1 Bibliography.- Appendix 2 Equipment Suppliers.- Appendix 3 Web Sites Relating to the Sun.

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Book SynopsisAs humanity expands its presence into space and ultimately settles beyond earth permanently, what freedoms can people expect? On the one hand space offers an escape from the traditions and entrenched patterns on Earth. On the other hand, how can you be free when the air you breathe comes from a manufacturing process controlled by someone else? In four essays, Charles Cockell explores the nature of extra-terrestrial liberty, one of the most pressing discussions in the future of political philosophy. Charles Cockell is Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. He has previously worked at the British Antarctic Survey and NASA and is Director of the UK Centre for Astrobiology.

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Book SynopsisA thorough introduction to solar physics based on recent spacecraft observations. The author introduces the solar corona and sets it in the context of basic plasma physics before moving on to discuss plasma instabilities and plasma heating processes. The latest results on coronal heating and radiation are presented. Spectacular phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections are described in detail, together with their potential effects on the Earth. Table of ContentsThermal Radiation.- Hydrostatics.- Hydrodynamics.- Magnetic Fields.- Magneto-Hydrodynamics (MHD).- MHD Oscillations.- Propagating MHD Waves.- Coronal Heating.- Magnetic Reconnection.- Particle Acceleration.- Particle Kinematics.- Hard X-Rays.- Gamma-Rays.- Radio Emission.- Flare Plasma Dynamics.- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).

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Book SynopsisBlack Holes are still considered to be among the most mysterious and fascinating objects in our universe. Awaiting the era of gravitational astronomy, much progress in theoretical modeling and understanding of classical and quantum black holes has already been achieved. The present volume serves as a tutorial, high-level guided tour through the black-hole landscape: information paradox and blackhole thermodynamics, numerical simulations of black-hole formation and collisions, braneworld scenarios and stability of black holes with respect to perturbations are treated in great detail, as is their possible occurrence at the LHC. An outgrowth of a topical and tutorial summer school, this extensive set of carefully edited notes has been set up with the aim of constituting an advanced-level, multi-authored textbook which meets the needs of both postgraduate students and young researchers in the fields of modern cosmology, astrophysics and (quantum) field theory. Table of ContentsBlack Holes and their Properties.- What Exactly is the Information Paradox?.- Classical Yang–Mills Black Hole Hair in Anti-de Sitter Space.- Black Hole Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics.- Colliding Black Holes and Gravitational Waves.- Numerical Simulations of Black Hole Formation.- Higher-Dimensional Black Holes.- Black Holes in Higher-Dimensional Gravity.- Braneworld Black Holes.- Higher Order Gravity Theories and Their Black Hole Solutions.- Gravitational Waves from Braneworld Black Holes.- Black Holes at the Large Hadron Collider.- Perturbations of Black Holes.- Perturbations and Stability of Higher-Dimensional Black Holes.- Analytic Calculation of Quasi-Normal Modes.

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Book SynopsisSpecial relativity is the basis of many fields in modern physics: particle physics, quantum field theory, high-energy astrophysics, etc. This theory is presented here by adopting a four-dimensional point of view from the start. An outstanding feature of the book is that it doesn’t restrict itself to inertial frames but considers accelerated and rotating observers. It is thus possible to treat physical effects such as the Thomas precession or the Sagnac effect in a simple yet precise manner. In the final chapters, more advanced topics like tensorial fields in spacetime, exterior calculus and relativistic hydrodynamics are addressed. In the last, brief chapter the author gives a preview of gravity and shows where it becomes incompatible with Minkowsky spacetime. Well illustrated and enriched by many historical notes, this book also presents many applications of special relativity, ranging from particle physics (accelerators, particle collisions, quark-gluon plasma) to astrophysics (relativistic jets, active galactic nuclei), and including practical applications (Sagnac gyrometers, synchrotron radiation, GPS). In addition, the book provides some mathematical developments, such as the detailed analysis of the Lorentz group and its Lie algebra. The book is suitable for students in the third year of a physics degree or on a masters course, as well as researchers and any reader interested in relativity. Thanks to the geometric approach adopted, this book should also be beneficial for the study of general relativity. “A modern presentation of special relativity must put forward its essential structures, before illustrating them using concrete applications to specific dynamical problems. Such is the challenge (so successfully met!) of the beautiful book by Éric Gourgoulhon.” (excerpt from the Foreword by Thibault Damour)Table of ContentsMinkowski Spacetime.- Worldlines and Proper Time.- Observers.- Kinematics 1: Motion with Respect to an Observer.- Kinematics 2: Change of Observer.- Lorentz Group.- Lorentz Group as a Lie Group.- Inertial Observers and Poincaré Group.- Energy and Momentum.- Angular Momentum.- Principle of Least Action.- Accelerated Observers.- Rotating Observers.- Tensors and Alternate Forms.- Fields on Spacetime.- Integration in Spacetime.- Electromagnetic Field.- Maxwell Equations.- Energy-Momentum Tensor.- Energy-Momentum of the Electromagnetic Field.- Relativistic Hydrodynamics.- What about Relativistic Gravitation?.- A Basic Algebra.- B Web Pages.- C Special Relativity Books.

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Book SynopsisThis 6th edition of “Tools of Radio Astronomy”, the most used introductory text in radio astronomy, has been revised to reflect the current state of this important branch of astronomy. This includes the use of satellites, low radio frequencies, the millimeter/sub-mm universe, the Cosmic Microwave Background and the increased importance of mm/sub-mm dust emission. Several derivations and presentations of technical aspects of radio astronomy and receivers, such as receiver noise, the Hertz dipole and beam forming have been updated, expanded, re-worked or complemented by alternative derivations. These reflect advances in technology. The wider bandwidths of the Jansky-VLA and long wave arrays such as LOFAR and mm/sub-mm arrays such as ALMA required an expansion of the discussion of interferometers and aperture synthesis. Developments in data reduction algorithms have been included. As a result of the large amount of data collected in the past 20 years, the discussion of solar system radio astronomy, dust emission, and radio supernovae has been revisited. The chapters on spectral line emission have been updated to cover measurements of the neutral hydrogen radiation from the early universe as well as measurements with new facilities. Similarly the discussion of molecules in interstellar space has been expanded to include the molecular and dust emission from protostars and very cold regions. Several worked examples have been added in the areas of fundamental physics, such as pulsars. Both students and practicing astronomers will appreciate this new up-to-date edition of Tools of Radio Astronomy. Trade ReviewAus den Rezensionen zur 6.Auflage: “... Studenten und Absolventen einschlägiger Fachrichtungen ist das Buch auch fur Quereinsteiger und Amateure geeignet, die ernsthaft in dieses Fachgebiet eindringen wollen.“ (in: Funkamateur, Heft 5, 2014)Table of ContentsRadio Astronomical Fundamentals.- ElectromagneticWave Propagation Fundamentals.- Wave Polarization.- Signal Processing and Receivers: Theory.- Practical Receiver Systems.- Fundamentals of Antenna Theory.- Practical Aspects of Filled Aperture Antennas.- Single Dish Observational Methods.- Interferometers and Aperture Synthesis.- Emission Mechanisms of Continuous Radiation.- Some Examples of Thermal and Nonthermal Radio Sources.- Spectral Line Fundamentals.- Line Radiation from Atoms.- Radio Recombination Lines.- Overview of Molecular Basics.- Molecules in Interstellar Space.- Some Useful Vector Relations & Fourier Transforms.- The Van Vleck Clipping Correction: One Bit Quantization.- Conventional Derivation of Square Law Detector Response & Receiver Noise.- The Reciprocity Theorem.- Filled Aperture Antennas.- The Hankel Transform.- Lists of Calibration Radio Sources.- The Mutual Coherence Function and van Cittert-Zernike Theorem.- Bibliography.- Index.

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Book SynopsisIt would seem that any specialist in plasma physics studying a medium in which the interaction between particles is as distance-dependent as the inter­ action between stars and other gravitating masses would assert that the role of collective effects in the dynamics of gravitating systems must be decisive. However, among astronomers this point of view has been recog­ nized only very recently. So, comparatively recently, serious consideration has been devoted to theories of galactic spiral structure in which the dominant role is played by the orbital properties of individual stars rather than collec­ tive effects. In this connection we would like to draw the reader's attention to a difference in the scientific traditions of plasma physicists and astrono­ mers, whereby the former have explained the delay of the onset of controlled thermonuclear fusion by the "intrigues" of collective processes in the plasma, while many a generation of astronomers were calculating star motions, solar and lunar eclipses, and a number of other fine effects for many years ahead by making excellent use of only the laws of Newtonian mechanics. Therefore, for an astronomer, it is perhaps not easy to agree with the fact that the evolution of stellar systems is controlled mainly by collective effects, and the habitual methods of theoretical mechanics III astronomy must make way for the method of self-consistent fields.Table of Contents(Volume I).- § 1. Basic Concepts and Equations of Theory.- § 2. Equilibrium States of Collisionless Gravitating Systems.- § 3. Small Oscillations and Stability.- §4. Jeans Instability of a One—Component Uniform Medium.- §5. Jeans Instability of a Multicomponent Uniform Medium.- 5.1. Basic Theorem (on the Stability of a Multicomponent System with Components at Rest).- 5.2. Four Limiting Cases for a Two—Component Medium.- 5.3. Table of Jeans Instabilities of a Uniform Two—Component Medium.- 5.4. General Case of n Components.- §6. Non—Jeans Instabilities.- § 7. Qualitative Discussion of the Stability of Spherical, Cylindrical (and Disk—Shaped) Systems with Respect to Radial Perturbations.- I Theory.- I Equilibrium and Stability of a Nonrotating Flat Gravitating Layer.- § 1. Equilibrium States of a Collisionless Flat Layer.- § 2. Gravitational (Jeans) Instability of the Layer.- § 3. Anisotropic (Fire—Hose) Instability of a Collisionless Flat Layer.- 3.1. Qualitative Considerations.- 3.2. Derivation of the Dispersion Equation for Bending Perturbations of a Thin Layer.- 3.3. Fire—Hose Instability of a Highly Anisotropic Flat Layer.- 3.4. Analysis of the Dispersion Equation.- 3.5. Additional Remarks.- § 4. Derivation of Integra—Differential Equations for Normal Modes of a Flat Gravitating Layer.- § 5. Symmetrical Perturbations of a Flat Layer with an Isotropic Distribution Function Near the Stability Boundary.- § 6. Perpendicular Oscillations of a Homogeneous Collisionless Layer.- 6.1. Derivation of the Characteristic Equation for Eigenfrequencies.- 6.2. Stability of the Model.- 6.3. Permutational Modes.- 6.4. Time—Independent Perturbations (? = 0).- Problems.- II Equilibrium and Stability of a Collisionless Cylinder.- §1. Equilibrium Cylindrical Configurations.- § 2. Jeans Instability of a Cylinder with Finite Radius.- 2.1. Dispersion Equation for Eigenfrequencies of Axial-Symmetrical Perturbations of a Cylinder with Circular Orbits of Particles.- 2.2. Branches of Axial—Symmetrical Oscillations of a Rotating Cylinder with Maxwellian Distribution of Particles in.- 2.3. Longitudinal Velocities.- 2.4. Oscillative Branches of the Rotating Cylinder with a Jackson Distribution Function (in Longitudinal Velocities).- 2.5. Axial—Symmetrical Perturbations of Cylindrical Models of a More General Type.- § 3. Nonaxial Perturbations of a Collisionless Cylinder.- 3.1. The Long—Wave Fire-Hose Instability.- 3.2. Nonaxial Perturbations of a Cylinder with Circular Particle Orbits 100§ 4. Stability of a Cylinder with Respect to Flute—like Perturbations.- § 5. Local Analysis of the Stability of Cylinders (Flute—like Perturbations).- 5.1. Dispersion Equation for Model (2), § 1.- 5.2. Maxwellian Distribution Function.- § 6. Comparison with Oscillations of an Incompressible Cylinder.- 6.1. Flute—like Perturbations (kz = 0).- § 7. Flute—like Oscillations of a Nonuniform Cylinder with Circular Orbits of Particles.- Problems.- III Equilibrium and Stability of Collisionless Spherically Symmetrical Systems.- § 1. Equilibrium Distribution Functions.- § 2. Stability of Systems with an Isotropic Particle Velocity Distribution.- 2.1. The General Variational Principle for Gravitating Systems with the Isotropic Distribution of Particles in Velocities (f0 = f0(E), f’0 = df0|dE ? 0).- 2.2. Sufficient Condition of Stability.- 2.3. Other Theorems about Stability. Stability with Respect to Nonradial Perturbations.- 2.4. Variational Principle for Radial Perturbations.- 2.5. Hydrodynamical Analogy.- 2.6. On the Stability of Systems with Distribution Functions That Do Not Satisfy the Condition f’0 (E) ? 0.- § 3. Stability of Systems of Gravitating Particles Moving On Circular Trajectories.- 3.1. Stability of a Uniform Sphere.- 3.2. Stability of a Homogeneous System of Particles with Nearly Circular Orbits.- 3.3. Stability of a Homogeneous Sphere with Finite Angular Momentum.- 3.4. Stability of Inhomogeneous Systems.- § 4. Stability of Systems of Gravitating Particles Moving in Elliptical Orbits.- 4.1. Stability of a Sphere with Arbitrary Elliptical Particle Orbits.- 4.2. Instability of a Rotating Freeman Sphere.- § 5. Stability of Systems with Radial Trajectories of Particles.- 5.1. Linear Stability Theory.- 5.2. Simulation of a Nonlinear Stage of Evolution.- § 6. Stability of Spherically Symmetrical Systems of General Form.- 6.1. Series of the Idlis Distribution Functions.- 6.2. First Series of Camm Distribution Functions (Generalized Poly tropes).- 6.3. Shuster’s Model in the Phase Description.- §7. Discussion of the Results.- Problems.- IV Equilibrium and Stability of Collisionless Ellipsoidal Systems.- § 1. Equilibrium Distribution Functions.- 1.1 Freeman’s Ellipsoidal Models.- 1.2. “Hot” Models of Collisionless Ellipsoids of Revolution.- § 2. Stability of a Three—Axial Ellipsoid and an Elliptical Disk.- 2.1. Stability of a Three-Axial Ellipsoid.- 2.2. Stability of Freeman Elliptical Disks.- § 3. Stability of Two—Axial Collisionless Ellipsoidal Systems.- 3.1. Stability of Freeman’s Spheroids.- 3.2. Peebles—Ostriker Stability Criterion. Stability of Uniform Ellipsoids, “Hot” in the Plane of Rotation.- 3.3. The Fire-Hose Instability of Ellipsoidal Stellar Systems.- 3.4. Secular and Dynamical Instability. Characteristic Equation for Eigenfrequencies of Oscillations of Maclaurin Ellipsoids.- Problems.- V Equilibrium and Stability of Flat Gravitating Systems.- § 1. Equilibrium States of Flat Gaseous and Collisionless Systems.- 1.3. Systems with Circular Particle Orbits.- 1.4. Plasma Systems with a Magnetic Field.- 1.5. Gaseous Systems.- 1.6. “Hot” Collisionless Systems.- § 2. Stability of a “Cold” Rotating Disk.- 2.1. Membrane Oscillations of the Disk.- 2.2. Oscillations in the Plane of the Disk.- § 3. Stability of a Plasma Disk with a Magnetic Field.- 3.1. Qualitative Derivation of the Stability Condition.- 3.2. Variational Principle.- 3.3. Short—Wave Approximation.- 3.4. Numerical Analysis of a Specific Model.- § 4. Stability of a “Hot” Rotating Disk.- 4.1. Oscillations in the Plane of the Disk.- 4.2. Bending Perturbations.- 4.3. Methods of the Stability Investigation of General Collisionless Disk Systems.- 4.4. Exact Spectra of Small Perturbations.- 4.5. Global Instabilities of Gaseous Disks. Comparison of Stability Properties of Gaseous and Stellar Disks.- Problems.- References.- Additional References.

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Table of Contents(Volume II).- Non-Jeans Instabilities of Gravitating Systems.- VI Non-Jeans Instabilities of Gravitating Systems.- § 1. Beam Instability of a Gravitating Medium.- 1.1. Theorem of a Number of Instabilities of the Heterogeneous System with Homogeneous Flows.- 1.2. Expression for the Growth Rate of the Kinetic Beam Instability in the Case of a Beam of Small Density (for an Arbitrary Distribution Function).- 1.3. Beam with a Step Function Distribution.- 1.4. Hydrodynamical Beam Instability. Excitation of the Rotational Branch.- 1.5. Stabilizing Effect of the Interaction of Gravitating Cylinders and Disks.- 1.6. Instability of Rotating Inhomogeneous Cylinders with Oppositely Directed Beams of Equal Density.- § 2. Gradient Instabilities of a Gravitating Medium.- 2.1. Cylinder of Constant Density with Radius-Dependent Temperature. Hydrodynamical Instability.- 2.2. Cylinder of Constant Density with a Temperature Jump. Kinetic Instability.- 2.3. Cylinder with Inhomogeneous Density and Temperature.- § 3. Hydrodynamical Instabilities of a Gravitating Medium with a Growth Rate Much Greater than that of Jeans.- 3.1. Hydrodynamical Instabilities in the Model of a Flat Parallel Flow.- 3.2. Hydrodynamical Instabilities of a Gravitating Cylinder.- §4. General Treatment of Kinetic Instabilities.- 4.1. Beam Effects in the Heterogeneous Model of a Galaxy.- 4.2. Influence of a “Black Hole” at the Center of a Spherical System on the Resonance Interactions Between Stars and Waves.- 4.3. Beam Instability in the Models of a Cylinder and a Flat Layer.- VII Problems of Nonlinear Theory.- § 1. Nonlinear Stability Theory of a Rotating, Gravitating Disk.- 1.1. Nonlinear Waves and Solitons in a Hydrodynamical Model of an Infinitely Thin Disk with Plane Pressure.- 1.2. Nonlinear Waves in a Gaseous Disk.- 1.3. Nonlinear Waves and Solitons in a Stellar Disk.- 1.4. Explosive Instability.- 1.5. Remarks on the Decay Processes.- 1.6. Nonlinear Waves in a Viscous Medium.- § 2. Nonlinear Interaction of a Monochromatic Wave with Particles in Gravitating Systems.- 2.1. Nonlinear Dynamics of the Beam Instability in a Cylindrical Model.- 2.2. Nonlinear Saturation of the Instability at the Corotation Radiusin the Disk.- § 3. Nonlinear Theory of Gravitational Instability of a Uniform Expanding Medium.- § 4. Foundations of Turbulence Theory.- 4.1. Hamiltonian Formalism for the Hydrodynamical Model of a Gravitating Medium.- 4.2. Three-Wave Interaction.- 4.3. Four-Wave Interaction.- §5. Concluding Remarks.- 5.1. When Can an Unstable Gravitating Disk be Regarded as an Infinitesimally Thin One?.- 5.2. On Future Soliton Theory of Spiral Structure.- Problems.- II Astrophysical Applications.- VIII General Remarks.- § 1. Oort’s Antievolutionary Hypothesis.- § 2. Is There a Relationship Between the Rotational Momentum of an Elliptical Galaxy and the Degree of Oblateness?.- § 3. General Principles of the Construction of Models of Spherically Symmetric Systems.- § 4. Lynden-Bell’s Collisionless Relaxation.- § 5. Estimates of “Collisionlessness” of Particles in Different Real Systems.- IX Spherical Systems.- § 1. A Brief Description of Observational Data.- 1.1. Globular Star Clusters.- 1.2. Spherical Galaxies.- 1.3. Compact Galactic Clusters.- § 2. Classification of Unstable Modes in Scales.- § 3. Universal Criterion of the Instability.- § 4. Specificity of the Effects of Small-Scale and Large-Scale Perturbations on the System’s Evolution.- § 5. Results of Numerical Experiments for Systems with Parameters Providing Strong Supercriticality.- § 6. Example of Strongly Unstable Model.- § 7. Can Lynden-Bell’s Intermixing Mechanism Be Observed Against a Background of Strong Instability ?.- § 8. Is the “Unstable” Distribution of Stellar Density Really Unstable (in the Hydrodynamical Sense) in the Neighborhood of a “Black Hole”?.- X Ellipsoidal Systems.- § 1. Objects Under Study.- § 2. Elliptical Galaxies.- 2.1. Why Are Elliptical Galaxies More Oblate than E7 Absent?.- 2.2. Comparison of the Observed Oblatenesses of S- and SO-Galaxies with the Oblateness of E-Galaxies.- 2.3. Two Possible Solutions of the Problem.- 2.4. The Boundary of the Anisotropic (Fire-Hose) Instability Determines the Critical Value of Oblateness.- 2.5. Universal Criterion of Instability.- §3. SB-Galaxies.- 3.1. The Main Problem.- 3.2. Detection in NGC 4027 of Counterflows as Predicted by Freeman.- 3.3. Stability of Freeman Models of SB-Galaxies with Observed Oblateness.- XI Disk-like Systems. Spiral Structure.- § 1. Different Points of View on the Nature of Spiral Structure.- § 2. Resonant Interaction of the Spiral Wave with Stars of the Galaxy.- 2.1. Derivation of Expressions for the Angular Momentum and Energy of the Spiral Wave.- 2.2. Physical Mechanisms of Energy and Angular Momentum Exchange Between the Spiral Waves and the Resonant Stars.- § 3. The Linear Theory of Stationary Density Waves.- 3.1. The Primary Idea of Lin and Shu of the Stationary Density Waves.- 3.2. The Spiral Galaxy as an Infinite System of Harmonic Oscillators.- 3.3. On “Two-Armness” of the Spiral Structure.- 3.4. The Main Difficulties of the Stationary Wave Theory of Lin and Shu.- §4. Linear Theory of Growing Density Waves.- 4.1. Spiral Structure as the Most Unstable Mode.- 4.2. Gravitational Instability at the Periphery of Galaxies.- 4.3. Waves of Negative Energy Generated Near the Corotation Circle and Absorbed at the Inner Lindblad Resonance—Lynden-BellKalnaj’s Picture of Spiral Pattern Maintenance.- 4.4. Kelvin–Helmholz Instability and Flute-like Instability in the Near-Nucleus Region of the Galaxy as Possible Generators of Spiral Structure.- 4.5. The “Trailing” Character of Spiral Arms.- § 5. Comparison of the Lin–Shu Theory with Observations.- 5. 1 The Galaxy.- 5.2. M33, M51, M81.- § 6. Experimental Simulation of Spiral Structure Generation.- 6. 1 In a Rotating Laboratory Plasma.- 6.2. In Numerical Experiment.- § 7. The Hypothesis of the Origin of Spirals in the SB-Galaxies.- XII Other Applications.- § 1 On the Structure of Saturn’s Rings.- l.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Model. Basic Equations.- 1.3. Jeans Instability.- 1.4. Dissipative Instabilities.- 1.5. Modulational Instability.- Appendix. Derivation of the Expression for the Perturbation Energy of Maclaurin’s Ellipsoid.- § 2. On the Law of Planetary Distances.- §3. Galactic Plane Bending.- 3.1. Quasistationary Tidal Deformation.- 3.2. Free Modes of Oscillations.- 3.3. Close Passage.- § 4. Instabilities in Collisions of Elementary Particles.- § 1. Collisionless Kinetic Equation and Poisson Equation in Different Coordinate Systems.- § 2. Separation of Angular Variables in the Problem of Small Perturbations of Spherically Symmetrical Collisionless Systems.- § 3. Statistical Simulation of Stellar Systems.- 3.1. Simulation of Stellar Spheres of the First Camm Series.- 3.2. Simulation of Homogeneous Nonrotating Ellipsoids.- § 4. The Matrix Formulation of the Problem of Eigenoscillations of a Spherically-Symmetrical Collisionless System.- § 5. The Matrix Formulation of the Problem of Eigenoscillations of Collisionless Disk Systems.- 5.1. The Main Ideas of the Derivation of the Matrix Equation.- 5.2. “Lagrange” Derivation of the Matrix Equation.- § 6. Derivation of the Dispersion Equation for Perturbations of the Three-Axial Freeman Ellipsoid.- § 7. WKB Solutions of the Poisson Equation Taking into Account the Preexponential Terms and Solution of the Kinetic Equation in the Postepicyclic Approximation.- 7.1. The Relation Between the Potential and the Surface Density.- 7.2. Calculations of the Response of a Stellar Disk to an Imposed Perturbation of the Potential.- § 8. On the Derivation of the Nonlinear Dispersion Equation for Collisionless Disk.- § 9. Calculation of the Matrix Elements for the Three-Waves Interaction.- § 10. Derivation of the Formulas for the Boundaries of Wave Numbers Range Which May Take Part in a Decay.- §11. Derivation of the Kinetic Equation for Waves.- § 12. Table of Non-Jeans Instabilities (with a Short Summary).- References.- Additional References.

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Trade Review"Lessons in cosmology and astrophysics abound in this enthusiastic primer from physicist Davies. In answering thirty questions, Davies aims to show how 'beautiful and awe-inspiring' the world is. . . . Accessible writing and a breezy appreciation for discovery make this a great introduction for readers new to physics." * Publishers Weekly *"Dark matter, black holes, dark energy: with all this shadowy terminology in play, it’s no wonder when laypeople find cosmology off-putting, so What’s Eating the Universe? illumines the mysteries of quantum physics in a nonthreatening way." * Foreword Reviews *"A whirlwind tour through the vastness of space and the innermost recesses of subatomic matter. . . . A long career in cosmology, astrobiology, and quantum mechanics gives Davies a keen insight into the realities of research. . . . Like the immense void that gapes across the sky in the direction of the constellation Eridanus, a yawning emptiness that some have suggested may be the sign of another universe set to gobble up our own, the mysteries of space are so vast and so strange that we cannot but be amazed." * Wall Street Journal *"Astrophysicist Davies takes a tour of the cosmos’s grand questions and considers, among other things, supermassive black holes." * Publishers Weekly *"From ancient astronomy and Newton's Law of gravity to dark energy, time loops and extraterrestrial life, the distinguished science writer with a 'short, inspiring and highly entertaining' account of the history of the universe, framed through thirty cosmological conundrums." * Bookseller *"Understanding theoretical physics is a daunting task, but cosmologist Davies’s new book What’s Eating the Universe? is here to guide readers through the field. Davies covers general relativity, antimatter, time travel, the multiverse, and just about any other topic he could fit into the book’s two hundred pages. Each chapter is short—less than ten pages—but jargon-free and full of information. Davies uses a conversational tone to draw the reader in as he skims the history, experiments, and significance of each concept. Regardless of the reader’s prior physics knowledge, the book provides an accessible introduction to cosmology." * Physics Today *"A whistle-stop tour of the biggest mysteries that cosmologists are investigating today. . . . The eponymous chapter details an unexpected void-like cold spot that astronomers have found in the constellation of Eridanus. Speculations follow that our universe might be spontaneously engulfed by a collision with another, or by the quantum vacuum decaying to a lower energy level. If you can bear to contemplate such scary prospects, this book is a fun way of making sure you’re all caught up on where cosmology is at today." * Physics World *"This is physicist and renowned author Davies’s specialty—providing interesting and provocative commentary on the most profound questions the universe has to offer. And in his compelling new book, What’s Eating the Universe?, Davies excels in succinctly addressing the big intangibles; the cosmological conundrums that haven’t received as much attention as dark matter, dark energy, what triggered the big bang, and the ultimate fate of the universe." * Forbes *"What's Eating the Universe? gives a concise summary of what we know about the universe, including the Big Bang, inflation, the existence . . . of what we call dark matter and dark energy, the possibility of other universes, black holes and the nature of time—all in around 150 accessible and beautifully written pages that can be read in short, discrete chunks. As a whistle-stop tour, it is breathtaking." * Times Higher Education *“Why is the night sky dark? Where is the center of the Universe? Is time travel possible? How many universes are there? These are some of the thirty questions that Davies tackles in his latest book. Some of the answers are settled by consensus, others are more speculative; all are thought-provoking. The chapters are arranged roughly in chronological order of the observations and theoretical advances to which they relate, making the book an entertaining and accessible whistle-stop tour of (mostly Western) thinking about cosmology.” * Nature Astronomy *"Recommended [for] all readers." * Choice *“Brilliant. You won’t find a clearer, more engaging guide to what we know (or would like to know) about the universe and how it is put together.” -- Bill Bryson“What’s Eating the Universe? is a veritable feast for curious minds. Davies, a polymath and lyrical writer, masterfully tackles all the big questions ranging from why this Universe to the meaning of life and the significance of the present moment—a whirlwind journey through ideas that have shaped our understanding of the cosmos and its constituents.” -- Priyamvada Natarajan, author of "Mapping the Heavens: The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos"“A whistle-stop tour of the major questions in contemporary cosmology.” -- Philip Ball, author of "Beyond Weird: Why Everything You Thought You Knew about Quantum Physics Is Different"“Davies gives us a thought-provoking, fascinating, and delightful journey through some of the Big Questions that have perplexed and tantalized scientists throughout history. These are the questions and paradoxes that have stumped and teased history’s greatest minds. What happened before the beginning? What is the meaning of the universe? Are there other universes?” -- Michio Kaku“Davies brings his customary lucidity to a survey of some of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects of our universe, simultaneously educating us about its vertiginous wonders and giving us a real sense of science’s questions as it confronts and explores them and wrestles with their mystery. It is an absorbing and stimulating read, one of the best of its kind.” -- A. C. Grayling“What’s Eating the Universe? is Davies at his very best. He brings a lifetime of experience in explaining mysteries of space and time to offer thought-provoking essays on deep questions in bite-sized, easily digestible chunks. There is no better overview of the advances made by cosmologists in recent decades.” -- John Gribbin“Davies has selected a wonderful potpourri of deep questions with incomplete answers. The result is a delightful, fresh-smelling account of the cutting edge of modern cosmology. He is truly exceptional at explaining all of this in his inimitable style—let’s say ‘astropoetry.’” -- Simon Mitton, University of Cambridge"A lucid, simple, informative, and good-humored primer on the big questions of modern physics and cosmology, which describes not only the triumphs, but the remaining difficulties. Davies at his best!" -- Ian Stewart, author of "Calculating the Cosmos" "Davies’ What’s Eating the Universe? is an accessible and engaging introduction to cosmology that will surely pique the interest of students, scholars, and the general public. Davies’ clear and captivating narrative style brings the reader on a journey through cosmological mysteries, while covering a wide range of topics that go beyond the usual fare of popular science books. . . . Davies’s book is a valuable resource for the philosophy classroom and for those philosophers interested in a brief summary of contemporary physical cosmology." * Metascience *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Journey from the Edge of Time 2. The Search for the Key to the Universe 3. Why is It Dark at Night? 4. The Big Bang 5. Where is the Centre of the Universe? 6. Why the Cosmos is Actually Fairly Simple 7. What is the Speed of Space? 8. What is the Shape of Space? 9. Explaining the Cosmic Big Fix 10. Most of Our Universe is Missing 11. What is Dark Energy? 12. Where Does Matter Come From? 13. Gravity Conquers All 14. Warped Time and Black Holes 15. Is Time Travel Possible? 16. What is the Source of Time’s Puzzling Arrow? 17. The Black Hole Paradox 18. A Theory of Everything? 19. Fossils from the Cosmic Dawn 20. Can the Universe Come from Nothing? 21. How Many Universes Are There? 22. The Goldilocks Enigma 23. What’s Eating the Universe? 24. Is the Universe Actually a Botched Job? 25. Are We Alone? 26. Is ET in Our Backyard? 27. Why Am I Living Now? 28. The Fate of Our Universe 29. Is There a Meaning to It All? 30. What’s New on the Cosmic Horizon? Index

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Book SynopsisThe outstanding question in astronomy at the turn of the twentieth century was: What are the stars and why are they as they are? In this volume, the story of how the answer to this fundamental question was unravelled is narrated in an informal style, with emphasis on the underlying physics. This book discusses recent developments in the context of discussing the nature of the stars, their stability and the source of the energy they radiate. Reading this book will get young students excited about the presently unfolding revolution in astronomy and the challenges that await them in the world of physics, engineering and technology. General readers will also find the book appealing for its highly accessible narrative of the physics of stars.Table of ContentsThe Present Revolution in Astronomy: An Overview.- What Are the Stars?.- Stars as Globes of Gas.- Eddington’s Theory of the Stars.- Why Are the Stars as They Are?.- Energy Generation in the Stars.- Sounds of the Sun.- The Smoking Gun is Finally Found.

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Book SynopsisEssential Astrophysics is a book to learn or teach from, as well as a fundamental reference volume for anyone interested in astronomy and astrophysics. It presents astrophysics from basic principles without requiring any previous study of astronomy or astrophysics. It serves as a comprehensive introductory text, which takes the student through the field of astrophysics in lecture-sized chapters of basic physical principles applied to the cosmos.This one-semester overview will be enjoyed by undergraduate students with an interest in the physical sciences, such as astronomy, chemistry, engineering or physics, as well as by any curious student interested in learning about our celestial science. The mathematics required for understanding the text is on the level of simple algebra, for that is all that is needed to describe the fundamental principles. The text is of sufficient breadth and depth to prepare the interested student for more advanced specialised courses in the future. Astronomical examples are provided throughout the text, to reinforce the basic concepts and physics, and to demonstrate the use of the relevant formulae. In this way, the student learns to apply the fundamental equations and principles to cosmic objects and situations. Astronomical and physical constants and units as well as the most fundamental equations can be found in the appendix. Essential Astrophysics goes beyond the typical textbook by including references to the seminal papers in the field, with further reference to recent applications, results, or specialised literature.Trade ReviewFrom the reviews:“This work fills a unique position in the literature. It is a concrete, middle-level treatment that devotes as much attention to methods of research and observation as it does to results. Here at last is a book in English which bridges the gap between elementary introductory accounts and advanced technical monographs. … It is also a fine book for hobbyists and others with some grounding in astronomy who want to explore these matters in greater depth than elementary texts allow.” (Philosophy, Religion and Science Book Reviews, bookinspections.wordpress.com, May, 2014)“This set of lecture notes on astrophysics discusses the topics that would be taught in an introductory undergraduate class. The text is sufficiently comprehensive to be used as the principle textbook for a lecture course or for self-study. … the references are excellent, enabling those who need more detail to find information quickly. The book will be easy to follow for anyone with a solid background in lower-level undergraduate physics. A valuable acquisition for academic library collections. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (A. Spero, Choice, Vol. 51 (6), February, 2014)Table of ContentsList of focus elements.- List of tables.- Preface.- Observing the Universe.- Radiation.- Gravity.- Cosmic Motion.- Moving Particles.- Detecting Atoms in Stars.- Transmutation of the Elements.- What Makes the Sun Shine?.- The Extended Solar Atmosphere.- The Sun Amongst the Stars.- The Material Between the Stars.- Formation of the Stars and their Planets.- Stellar End States.- A Larger, Expanding Universe.- Origin, Life and Destiny of the Observable Universe.- References.- Author index.- Subject index.

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Book SynopsisThis book discusses the state of the art of the basic theoretical and observational topics related to black hole astrophysics. It covers all the main topics in this wide field, from the theory of accretion disks and formation mechanisms of jet and outflows, to their observed electromagnetic spectrum, and attempts to measure the spin of these objects. Black holes are one of the most fascinating predictions of general relativity and are currently a very hot topic in both physics and astrophysics. In the last five years there have been significant advances in our understanding of these systems, and in the next five years it should become possible to use them to test fundamental physics, in particular to predict the general relativity in the strong field regime. The book is both a reference work for researchers and a textbook for graduate students. Trade Review“A perfect volume for young scientists starting their research in a field of astrophysics of black holes. The book presents very deep and broad knowledge on the topic, in a well-written form, which can easily be understood by the reader. It is also very good position for more advanced scientists as well.” (Hubert Siejkowski, Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol 175, 2018)Table of ContentsPreface.- Black Hole Accretion Discs.- Black hole X-ray binaries.- Measuring spin: implications for our understanding of black hole accretion physics.- Jet and wind from black hole accretion flows.- Gravitational Waves: a new tool for observing the Universe.- A brief review of relativistic gravitational collapse.- General relativity in a nutshell.

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Book SynopsisEinstein''s theories of special relativity and general relativity form a core part of today''s undergraduate (or Masters-level) physics curriculum. This is a supplementary problem book or student''s manual, consisting of 150 problems in each of special and general relativity. The problems, which have been developed, tested and refined by the authors over the past two decades, are a mixture of short-form and multi-part extended problems, with hints provided where appropriate. Complete solutions are elaborated for every problem, in a different section of the book; some solutions include brief discussions on their physical or historical significance. Designed as a companion text to complement a main relativity textbook, it does not assume access to any specific textbook. This is a helpful resource for advanced students, for self-study, a source of problems for university teaching assistants, or as inspiration for instructors and examiners constructing problems for their lectures, homework or exams.Trade Review'This book is intended to help students grasp the concepts of relativity and acquire the requisite problem-solving skills and will be warmly received by graduate students of physics, including those preparing for the Graduate Record Examinations, and instructors of relativity. … Recommended.' N. Sadanand, ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface; Notation, Concepts, and Conventions in Relativity Theory; 1. Special Relativity Theory; 2. General Relativity Theory; 3. Solutions to Problems; Bibliography; Problem Index.

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Book SynopsisLeonhard Euler's Letters to a German Princess: A Milestone in the History of Physics Textbooks and More is a milestone in the history of physics textbooks and the instruction of women in the sciences.It also covers views of its author on epistemology, religion, and innovations in scientific equipment, including telescopes and microscopes. Today, 250 years later, we study this work of Euler's as a foundation for the history of physics teaching and analyze the letters from an historical and pedagogical point of view.Table of Contents Preface Prologue: physics pedagogy Author biographies Physics textbooks: origins before 1650 and principal natural philosophies and physics textbooks of the Enlightenment The two princesses and the Letters Euler: life, research, and teaching Selected letters from Volume 1 (letters 1-79) Selected letters from Volume 2 (letters 80-154) and Volume 3 (letters 155-234) Afterword Selected bibliography Glossary of principal names

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