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17002 results

Page 137 of 851

Bayesian Astrophysics
  • Edited by Andrés Asensio Ramos, Íñigo Arregui
  • Published online:
    28 April 2018
    Print publication:
    26 April 2018
  • Bayesian methods are being increasingly employed in many different areas of research in the physical sciences. In astrophysics, models are used to make predictions to be compared to observations. These observations offer information that is incomplete and uncertain, so the comparison has to be pursued by following a probabilistic approach. With contributions from leading experts, this volume covers the foundations of Bayesian inference, a description of computational methods, and recent results from their application to areas such as exoplanet detection and characterisation, image reconstruction, and cosmology. It appeals to both young researchers seeking to learn about Bayesian methods as well as to astronomers wishing to incorporate these approaches in their research areas. It provides the next generation of researchers with the tools of modern data analysis that are already becoming standard in current astrophysical research.

Astrobiology, Discovery, and Societal Impact
  • Steven J. Dick
  • Published online:
    26 April 2018
    Print publication:
    03 May 2018
  • The search for life in the universe, once the stuff of science fiction, is now a robust worldwide research program with a well-defined roadmap probing both scientific and societal issues. This volume examines the humanistic aspects of astrobiology, systematically discussing the approaches, critical issues, and implications of discovering life beyond Earth. What do the concepts of life and intelligence, culture and civilization, technology and communication mean in a cosmic context? What are the theological and philosophical implications if we find life - and if we do not? Steven J. Dick argues that given recent scientific findings, the discovery of life in some form beyond Earth is likely and so we need to study the possible impacts of such a discovery and formulate policies to deal with them. The remarkable and often surprising results are presented here in a form accessible to disciplines across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Cosmic Magnetic Fields
  • Edited by Jorge Sánchez Almeida, María Jesús Martínez González
  • Published online:
    21 April 2018
    Print publication:
    12 April 2018
  • Magnetic fields pervade the universe and play an important role in many astrophysical processes. However, they require specialised observational tools, and are challenging to model and understand. This volume provides a unified view of magnetic fields across astrophysical and cosmological contexts, drawing together disparate topics that are rarely covered together. Written by the lecturers of the XXV Canary Islands Winter School, it offers a self-contained introduction to cosmic magnetic fields on a range of scales. The connections between the behaviours of magnetic fields in these varying contexts are particularly emphasised, from the relatively small and close ranges of the Sun, planets and stars, to galaxies and clusters of galaxies, as well as on cosmological scales. Aimed at young researchers and graduate students, this up-to-date review uniquely brings together a subject often tackled by disconnected communities, conveying the latest advances as well as highlighting the limits of our current understanding.

  • 3 - Stellar Magnetic Fields

  • Edited by Jorge Sánchez Almeida, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Tenerife, María Jesús Martínez González, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Tenerife
  • Book:
    Cosmic Magnetic Fields
    Published online:
    21 April 2018
    Print publication:
    12 April 2018, pp 47-86

  • Summary

    Abstract

    Recent developments in astrophysical spectropolarimetry have significantly expanded our understanding of stellar magnetism. Using modern instrumentation and data analysis methods it is becoming possible to detect and characterise surface magnetic fields not just for a few peculiar objects but for essentially all types of stars, ranging from massive OB stars to brown dwarfs. The intention of this chapter is to give a general overview of the stellar magnetic field diagnostic methods and to present results of the application of these methods to different classes of stars. First, the chapter discusses the physical processes that lead to appearance of magnetic signatures in stellar spectra. Based on this discussion, the most commonly used magnetic observables are introduced for the intensity and polarisation spectra. The methods of interpretation of magnetic measurements, starting with robust field detection techniques and leading to reconstruction of the physically realistic vector maps of surface magnetic fields, are discussed. Finally, the current knowledge about the incidence, geometries and the origin of magnetic fields in stars of different masses and ages is reviewed and the astrophysical significance of magnetism in the context of stellar structure and evolution is discussed.

    Introduction

    This chapter presents an introduction to the studies of stellar magnetic fields. We explore the questions of how magnetic fields can be detected on the stellar surfaces, what information about magnetic field topologies can be extracted from different observations, and what are the observed properties of magnetic fields in stars of different masses and ages. The origin of magnetism in different types of stars and its relation to other physical processes operating in stellar interiors and atmospheres are briefly discussed.

    The following sections start by presenting the essential theoretical foundations of the stellar magnetic field diagnostic and modelling. We consider the Zeeman effect in spectral lines and information contained in the polarisation characteristics of stellar radiation. A connection between the local magnetic field parameters and morphology of the stellar polarisation profiles is established using both detailed numerical calculations and simplified analytical considerations. Based on this discussion, we introduce different methodologies suitable for the detection and characterisation of stellar magnetic fields.

Page 137 of 851