Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides an introduction for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students to the field of astrophysical fluid dynamics. Although sometimes ignored, fluid dynamical processes play a central role in virtually all areas of astrophysics.No previous knowledge of fluid dynamics is assumed. After establishing the basic equations of fluid dynamics and the physics relevant to an astrophysical application, a variety of topics in the field are addressed. There is also a chapter introducing the reader to numerical methods. Appendices list useful physical constants and astronomical quantities, and provide handy reference material on Cartesian tensors, vector calculus in polar coordinates, self-adjoint eigenvalue problems and JWKB theory.
Trade Review"It is ideal in my view as a general introduction to the subject of astrophysical fluid dynamics ... This book is rounded out with nearly ninety references that will be valuable for the beginning graduate student to peruse." Mathematical Reviews
Table of Contents# Basic Fluid Equations # Simple Models of Astrophysical Fluids and Their Motions # Theory of Rotating Bodies # Fluid Dynamical Instabilities # Magnetohydrodynamics # Numerical Computations # Planetary Atmosphere Dynamics # Accretion, Winds and Shocks # Viscous Accretion Disks # Jeans Instability and Star Formation # Radial Oscillations of Stars # Nonradial Oscillations and Helioseismology
