Description
Book SynopsisWritten for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this book provides physical explanations of twelve fundamental astrophysical processes underlying a wide range of phenomena in astronomy. It contains tutorial figures, review exercises, and step-by-step mathematical and physical development, providing a stepping stone to more specialized books and primary literature.
Trade Review'The author's engaging writing style makes this a very enjoyable book. Each topic starts with interesting observational material, then goes to a discussion of the physical concepts, amplified by mathematics, and very good figures, and then ties it up by finishing with more observational applications, either solving the problem posed at the beginning of the chapter or presenting new ones. This is a perfect book for seniors.' Marc L. Kutner, author of Astronomy: A Physical Perspective
'A lucid introduction to a selection of basic topics in astronomy, explaining the physics behind the astrophysics. Radiative processes are treated with just the right level of rigor that students learn how to carry out useful computations while developing their physical intuition. I have successfully used portions of this book for my first-year graduate class.' Eugene Chiang, Associate Professor of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley
'This excellent book takes 12 areas of astrophysics, starting with Newton and Kepler and ending with gravitational lensing and sets out the underlying physics in clear fashion. … Highly recommended.' Guy Pooley, The Observatory
Review of Astronomy Methods, also by Hale Bradt: '… a brilliant addition to the pedagogy. It is timely, focused, well written, and at the appropriate level … Astronomy Methods will be useful to all students of astronomy and astrophysics, irrespective of whether they intend to specialize in observational astronomy. The material can be adapted easily for various related courses, which makes the book even more valuable.' Physics Today
Table of ContentsPreface; 1. Kepler, Newton, and the mass function; 2. Equilibrium in stars; 3. Equations of state; 4. Stellar structure and evolution; 5. Thermal bremsstrahlung radiation; 6. Blackbody radiation; 7. Special theory of relativity in astronomy; 8. Synchrotron radiation; 9. Compton scattering; 10. Hydrogen spin-flip radiation; 11. Dispersion and Faraday rotation; 12. Gravitational lensing; References; Acronyms; Appendix; Index.
