Description
Book SynopsisBegins by addressing basic questions about active galactic nuclei: What are they? How can they be found? How do they evolve? This book assesses the evidence for massive black holes and considers how they generate power by accretion. It discusses X-ray and g-ray emission, radio emission and jets, emission and absorption lines, and others.
Trade ReviewWinner of the 1999 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Physics and Astronomy, Association of American Publishers "Krolik treats almost every aspect of the AGN phenomenon, ... This global survey of AGN physics makes Krolik's book the most useful in the field for years... [A] valuable reference for anybody interested in the physics of these cosmic powerhouses."--Chris Reynolds, Nature "A broad and thorough review of the standard model for AGN, including observational information and theoretical modeling. It will provide graduate and advanced undergraduate students with an excellent introduction to the field."--Ruth A. Daly, Physics Today
Table of ContentsPrefaceGuide for Readers1What Are Active Galactic Nuclei? And Why Does Anyone Care?32How to Find AGNs223Evolution424Global Energetics and Black Holes685Black Hole Physics906Spherical Accretion1207Accretion Disks and the Optical/Ultraviolet Continuum1358X-ray and [gamma]-ray Emission1969Radio Emission and Jets25610Emission Lines30911Intrinsic Absorption and Outflows39912Anisotropic Appearance and Unification of Disparate AGN Varieties42413Properties of AGN Host Galaxies46414Onset and Fueling49415Where We Stand530App. ABasic General Relativity533App. BBasic Magnetohydrodynamics537App. CShocks and Other Discontinuities542App. DLuminosity Functions and Other Population Statistics552App. EThe Tensor Viral Theorem559App. FKinematics in an Expanding Universe566References573Index589
