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16950 results

Page 381 of 848

Clusters of Galaxies
  • Edited by W. Oegerle, M. Fitchett, L. Danly
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    21 June 1990
  • Collected in this volume are the review papers from the Space Telescope Science Institute symposium on Clusters of Galaxies held in May 1989. Fifteen experts in the field have presented summaries of our current understanding of the formation and evolution of clusters and their constituent galaxies. Subjects covered include the existence and importance of subclustering, models of the evolution of clusters and the intracluster medium, the effect of the cluster environment on galaxies, observations of high redshift clusters, and the use of clusters as tracers of large scale structure. This book provides a timely focus for future observational and theoretical work on clusters of galaxies.

X-ray Polarimetry
  • A New Window in Astrophysics
  • Edited by Ronaldo Bellazzini, Enrico Costa, Giorgio Matt, Gianpiero Tagliaferri
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    08 July 2010
  • Due to the advent of a new generation of detectors, X-ray polarimetry promises to join X-ray imaging, spectroscopy and timing as one of the main observational techniques in high energy astrophysics. This has renewed interest in the field, and indeed several polarimetric missions have recently been proposed. This volume provides a complete and up-to-date view of the subject for researchers in astrophysics. The contributors discuss the present status and perspectives of instruments, review current theoretical models, and examine future missions. As well as detailed papers, the book contains broad reviews that can be easily understood by astrophysicists new to the field.

The Ultimate Fate of the Universe
  • Jamal N. Islam
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    14 April 1983
  • This book describes what will ultimately happen to the contents of the universe. To understand the universe in the far future, we must first describe its present state and structure on the grand scale, and how its present properties arose. Dr Islam explains these topics in an accessible way in the first part of the book. From this background he speculates about the future evolution of the universe and predicts the major changes that will occur. The author has largely avoided mathematical formalism and therefore the book is well suited to general readers with a modest background knowledge of physics and astronomy.

The Behavior of Chemical Elements in Stars
  • Carlos Jaschek, Mercedes Jaschek
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    08 June 1995
  • Despite more than one century of observational stellar spectroscopy, the resulting data is not available in an easily accessible format. The necessity of such basic information is greater than ever, because new wavelength regions (ultraviolet, infrared) are now accessible and modern receivers can only analyse short stretches of spectra, so that a careful pre-selection of strategic elements is mandatory. This book presents a summary of our knowledge of the behaviour of all chemical elements identified in stars, based on observations rather than on their interpretations. Whenever possible the behaviour is described quantitatively, with the help of equivalent widths in different types of stars, or different ionization stages, for both absorption and emission features. It will provide an authoritative reference book for the astrophysical community.

The Physics of Plasmas
  • T. J. M. Boyd, J. J. Sanderson
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    23 January 2003
  • The Physics of Plasmas provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject, illustrating the basic theory with examples drawn from fusion, space and astrophysical plasmas. A particular strength of the book is its discussion of the various models used to describe plasma physics and the relationships between them. These include particle orbit theory, fluid equations, ideal and resistive magnetohydrodynamics, wave equations and kinetic theory. The reader will gain a firm grounding in the fundamentals, and develop this into an understanding of some of the more specialised topics. Throughout the text, there is an emphasis on the physical interpretation of plasma phenomena. Exercises are provided throughout. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students of physics, applied mathematics, astronomy and engineering will find a clear but rigorous explanation of the fundamental properties of plasmas with minimal mathematical formality. This book will also appeal to research physicists, nuclear and electrical engineers.

Special Relativity
  • From Einstein to Strings
  • Patricia M. Schwarz, John H. Schwarz
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    25 March 2004
  • This book provides a thorough introduction to Einstein's special theory of relativity, suitable for anyone with a minimum of one year's university physics with calculus. It is divided into fundamental and advanced topics. The first section starts by recalling the Pythagorean rule and its relation to the geometry of space, then covers every aspect of special relativity, including the history. The second section covers the impact of relativity in quantum theory, with an introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. It also goes over the group theory of the Lorentz group, a simple introduction to supersymmetry, and ends with cutting-edge topics such as general relativity, the standard model of elementary particles and its extensions, superstring theory, and a survey of important unsolved problems. Each chapter comes with a set of exercises. The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM illustrating, through interactive animation, classic problems in relativity involving motion.

Quantum Gravity
  • Carlo Rovelli
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    15 November 2004
  • Quantum gravity is perhaps the most important open problem in fundamental physics. It is the problem of merging quantum mechanics and general relativity, the two great conceptual revolutions in the physics of the twentieth century. The loop and spinfoam approach, presented in this 2004 book, is one of the leading research programs in the field. The first part of the book discusses the reformulation of the basis of classical and quantum Hamiltonian physics required by general relativity. The second part covers the basic technical research directions. Appendices include a detailed history of the subject of quantum gravity, hard-to-find mathematical material, and a discussion of some philosophical issues raised by the subject. This fascinating text is ideal for graduate students entering the field, as well as researchers already working in quantum gravity. It will also appeal to philosophers and other scholars interested in the nature of space and time.

Life in Antarctic Deserts and other Cold Dry Environments
  • Astrobiological Analogs
  • Edited by Peter T. Doran, W. Berry Lyons, Diane M. McKnight
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    29 April 2010
  • The McMurdo Dry Valleys form the largest relatively ice-free area on the Antarctic continent. The perennially ice-covered lakes, ephemeral streams and extensive areas of exposed soil are subject to low temperatures, limited precipitation and salt accumulation. The dry valleys thus represent a region where life approaches its environmental limits. This unique ecosystem has been studied for several decades as an analog to environments on other planets, particularly Mars. For the first time, the detailed terrestrial research of the dry valleys is brought together here, presented from an astrobiological perspective. Chapters include a discussion on the history of research in the valleys, a geological background of the valleys, setting them up as analogs for Mars, followed by chapters on the various sub-environments in the valleys such as lakes, glaciers and soils. Includes concluding chapters on biodiversity and other analog environments on Earth.

Dynamics of Astrophysical Discs
  • Edited by J. A. Sellwood
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    07 December 1989
  • Discs occur in a wide variety of astronomical contexts, ranging in size from planetary ring systems to galaxies. Because the dynamical problems posed by each type of disc are remarkably similar, the Astronomy Department of the University of Manchester decided to bring together experts in each area for a conference in December 1988. This book is a collection of the papers presented at the conference. It contains mainly review papers covering recent developments in both theory and observations of planetary ring systems, discs in star-forming regions, protoplanetary discs, accretion discs and galaxy discs presented by an expert in each field. The book also gives brief summaries of contributed papers outlining current research by many of the participants.

Gamma-ray Astronomy
  • 2nd edition
  • P. V. Ramana Murthy, A. W. Wolfendale
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    01 April 1993
  • The recent launch of NASA's Gamma-Ray Observatory will increase interest in gamma-ray astronomy. This is a fully up-dated new edition of the authors' earlier volume published in 1986 and covers both the background science and the current state-of-the-art in this field. The emphasis is on the astronomy and astrophysics of known sources of cosmic gamma-rays outside the solar system. The authors discuss the mechanisms for the production and absorption of gamma-rays. The gamma-ray line astronomy of the interstellar medium, galactic centre, and various discrete sources is then considered. Gamma-ray bursts are treated in considerable detail in chapter three, and the final two chapters describe medium energy and ultra-high energy gamma-rays. Relevant data from supernova SN1987A is also included in this edition. The book includes comprehensive references to the primary literature, together with many figures and tables. The concentration on phenomenology makes this book a fine introduction to gamma-ray astronomy.

New Worlds in the Cosmos
  • The Discovery of Exoplanets
  • Michel Mayor, Pierre-Yves Frei
  • Translated by Boud Roukema
  • Published online:
    06 July 2010
    Print publication:
    25 September 2003
  • With the discovery in 1995 of the first planet orbiting another star, we know that planets are not unique to our own Solar System. For centuries, humanity has wondered whether we are alone in the Universe. We are now finally one step closer to knowing the answer. The quest for exoplanets is an exciting one, because it holds the possibility that one day we might find life elsewhere in the Universe, born in the light of another sun. Written from the perspective of one of the pioneers of this scientific adventure, this exciting account describes the development of the modern observing technique that has enabled astronomers to find so many planets orbiting around other stars. It reveals the wealth of new planets that have now been discovered outside our Solar System, and what this means in terms of finding other life in the Universe.

  • 16 - Binary neutron star evolution

  • Thomas W. Baumgarte, Bowdoin College, Maine, Stuart L. Shapiro, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • Book:
    Numerical Relativity
    Published online:
    05 March 2013
    Print publication:
    24 June 2010, pp 533-561

  • Summary

    Binary neutron stars have always been of great interest to relativists and astrophysicists. Binary neutron stars are known to exist. Approximately a half-dozen have been identified to date in our own galaxy, and, for some of these, general relativistic effects in the binary orbit have been measured to high precision. The discovery of the first binary pulsar, PRS 1913 + 16, by Hulse and Taylor (1975), led to the observational confirmation of Einstein's quadrupole formula for gravitational wave emission in the slow-motion, weak-field regime of general relativity. The inspiral and coalescence of binary neutron stars is one of the most promising scenarios for the generation of gravitational waves detectable by laser interferometers. With the construction of the first of these interferometers completed, and planned upgrades already scheduled, it is of growing urgency that theorists be able to predict the gravitational waveform emitted during the merger of the two stars. The low-frequency inspiral waveform is emitted early on, before tidal distortions of the stars become important, and it can be calculated fairly accurately by performing high-order post-Newtonian expansions of the equations of motion for two point masses. The high-frequency coalescence waveform is emitted at the end, during the epoch of tidal distortion, disruption and merger, and it requires the combined machinery of relativistic hydrodynamics (or MHD) and numerical relativity. These tools are necessary to determine not only the waveform in the strong-field regime but also the final fate of the merged remnant. One of the key issues is determining whether a merged remnant collapses to a black hole immediately after coalescence (“prompt collapse”) or instead forms a transient, dynamically stable, differentially rotating, hypermassive star that only later undergoes collapse due to dissipative secular effects (“delayed collapse”). These different outcomes will leave distinguishing imprints on the late-epoch gravitational waveform.

Page 381 of 848