Introduction

Stellar physics provides a natural starting point for the study of astrophysics for several reasons. To begin with, this is probably the best understood area of astrophysics. Second, there is a vast amount of reliable data dealing with stellar physics. This observational input motivates accurate and sophisticated theoretical modelling as well as provides the opportunity for a detailed comparison between models and observations. Finally, stellar physics also forms the basis for the study of several other related areas, even in the domain of extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. For example, measurements of cosmic distances and the ages of different structures – which are very important in cosmology – cannot be done without accurate modelling of the stellar phenomena that are used as tools; the study of formation and evolution of galactic systems requires an understanding of star formation and stellar evolution, etc. This volume deals with different aspects of the astrophysics of stellar systems.

The evolution of stars differs significantly, depending on whether the star is isolated or is a member of a binary system. The bulk of the chapters in the book (from Chap. 3 to Chap. 6) deal with stellar evolution and stellar remnants in isolated contexts. Chapter 7 is devoted to the study of evolution of binary stars, and Chap. 10 covers the dynamics of systems like globular clusters that have a very large number of stars.