Value-based management of the rising sun

This new volume in an Indian series in astronomy and astrophysics is written for physicists who want to learn more about and share in the excitement of astrophysics. The approach is different from, and is best read in conjunction with, traditional texts. Padmanabhan (Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, India) makes liberal use of calculus and vector notation and assumes of readers knowledge of classical and quantum mechanics, special relativity, and electrodynamics. Coverage includes gravitation, radiative processes, matter, stars and stellar evolution, relicts of stars, cosmology and the early universe, the nearby universe, normal galaxies, and active galaxies. The book's parametric approach is very refreshing and insightful. Good figures and exercises end each chapter. Five pages cover the range of physical properties in astrophysics; there is a six-page index and a two-page bibliography. This book will be an excellent companion for graduate students and professionals in physics and astronomy, although it has sometimes-awkward English that could be easily corrected in future editions. Only for scientists and engineers with proper backgrounds in math and physics. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through professionals. W. E. Howard III formerly, Universities Space Research Association

Preface	p. vii
Prologue	p. xi
1 Gravitation	p. 1
1.1 Orbits in Newtonian gravity	p. 3
1.2 Precession and tides	p. 11
1.3 Virial theorem	p. 19
1.4 Gravitational collisions and relaxation	p. 25
1.5 Relativistic gravity	p. 28
1.6 Gravitational lensing	p. 34
2 Radiative Processes	p. 43
2.1 The origin of radiation	p. 43
2.1.1 Radiation in classical theory	p. 43
2.1.2 Radiation in quantum theory	p. 46
2.2 Thermal radiation	p. 49
2.3 Monochromatic plane wave	p. 52
2.4 Astrophysical radiative processes	p. 59
2.4.1 Thermal bremsstrahlung	p. 59
2.4.2 Synchrotron radiation	p. 63
2.4.3 Inverse Compton scattering	p. 67
2.5 Radiative processes in quantum theory	p. 74
2.5.1 Energy levels	p. 75
2.5.2 Transition rates and cross sections	p. 80
2.5.3 Ionisation and recombination	p. 83
2.5.4 Spectral line profiles	p. 87
3 Matter	p. 95
3.1 Equations of state	p. 95
3.2 Self-gravitating barotropic fluids	p. 101
3.3 Flows of matter	p. 106
3.3.1 Spherical accretion	p. 106
3.3.2 Accretion disks	p. 111
3.3.3 Shock waves and explosions	p. 114
3.3.4 Turbulence	p. 117
3.4 Basic plasma physics	p. 120
3.4.1 Ionisation equilibrium of plasma	p. 120
3.4.2 Electromagnetic fields in plasma	p. 125
4 Stars and Stellar Evolution	p. 135
4.1 When is gravity important?	p. 135
4.2 Stellar magnitudes and colours	p. 139
4.3 Modeling stellar structure	p. 147
4.4 The Sun as a star	p. 157
4.5 Overview of stellar evolution	p. 162
4.5.1 Formation of a main sequence star	p. 162
4.5.2 Life history of a star	p. 166
5 Relics of Stars	p. 179
5.1 Supernova remnants	p. 179
5.2 White dwarfs	p. 188
5.3 Neutron stars and pulsars	p. 193
5.4 Black holes	p. 196
5.5 Compact remnants in stellar binaries	p. 202
6 Cosmology and the Early Universe	p. 211
6.1 Evolution of the universe	p. 211
6.2 Primordial nucleosynthesis	p. 222
6.3 Decoupling of matter and radiation	p. 230
6.4 Formation of dark matter halos	p. 233
6.5 Generation of initial perturbations	p. 242
6.6 Temperature anisotropies in the CMBR	p. 251
7 Universe at z	p. 261
7.1 Galaxy formation	p. 261
7.2 Star formation history of the universe	p. 268
7.3 Intergalactic medium and the Gunn-Peterson effect	p. 272
7.4 Ionisation of IGM	p. 274
8 Normal Galaxies	p. 281
8.1 Morphological classification of galaxies	p. 281
8.1.1 Properties of disk galaxies	p. 283
8.1.2 Angular momentum of galaxies	p. 288
8.1.3 Properties of elliptical galaxies	p. 291
8.2 Models for stellar distribution in a galaxy	p. 294
8.2.1 Lane-Emden models	p. 296
8.2.2 Isothermal and King models	p. 296
8.2.3 Disk models	p. 298
8.3 Spectral energy distribution of galaxies	p. 299
8.4 The evolution of galaxies	p. 302
8.5 Luminosity function of galaxies	p. 305
8.6 Distribution of galaxies	p. 310
9 Active Galaxies	p. 317
9.1 AGN: Basic paradigm and the spectra	p. 317
9.2 Radio jets and bulk relativistic motion	p. 324
9.3 Quasar luminosity function	p. 329
9.4 Neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium	p. 334
9.4.1 Lyman forest	p. 336
9.4.2 Damped Lyman alpha clouds	p. 339
Appendix 0 Range of Physical Quantities in Astrophysics	p. 347
Bibliography	p. 353
Index	p. 357

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