Physics of stellar evolution and cosmology
Astrophysical phenomena are examined on a fundamental level, stressing basic physical laws, in a textbook suitable for a one-semester intermediate course. The ideal gas law, the meaning of temperature, black-body radiation, discrete spectra, and the Doppler effect are introduced and used to study such features of the interstellar medium as 21-cm radiation, nebulae and dust, and the galactic magnetic field. The phases of stellar evolution are discussed, including stellar collapse, quasi-hydrostatic equilibrium, the main sequence, red giants, white dwarves, neutron stars, supernovae, pulsars, and black holes. Among the cosmological topics covered are the implications of Hubble's constant, the red-shift curve, the steady-state universe, the evolution of the big bang (thermal equilibrium, hadron era, lepton era, primordial nucleosynthesis, hydrogen recombination, galaxy formation, and the cosmic fireball), and the future (cold end or big crunch). 72 references.
- OSTI ID:
- 6468798
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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640106 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY
DWARF STARS
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MECHANICS
MILKY WAY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SPACE
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS
WHITE DWARF STARS