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The Cambridge Astrophysics Series (CAPS) was founded in 1978, and has become an important source of high-quality books in astrophysics, written for professionals and graduate students. The series is dedicated to the publication of research level monographs, extended reviews, and graduate textbooks, and covers all areas of contemporary astrophysics. All books are authored or edited by established experts.

  • General Editors: Andrew King, Douglas Lin, Stephen Maran, Jim Pringle, Martin Ward, Robert Kennicutt

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35 results in Cambridge Astrophysics

Page 1 of 2

Pulsar Astronomy
  • 5th edition
  • Andrew Lyne, Francis Graham-Smith, Benjamin Stappers
  • Published online:
    21 July 2022
    Print publication:
    04 August 2022
  • After more than half a century since their unexpected discovery and identification as neutron stars, the observation and understanding of pulsars touches upon many areas of astronomy and astrophysics. The literature on pulsars is vast and the observational techniques used now cover the whole of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to gamma-rays. Now in its fifth edition, this volume has been reorganised and features new material throughout. It provides an introduction in historical and physical terms to the many aspects of neutron stars, including condensed matter, physics of the magnetosphere, supernovae and the development of the pulsar population, propagation in the interstellar medium, binary stars, gravitation and general relativity. The current development of a new generation of powerful radio telescopes, designed with pulsar research in mind, makes this survey and guide essential reading for a growing body of students and astronomers.

Astrophysical Magnetic Fields
  • From Galaxies to the Early Universe
  • Anvar Shukurov, Kandaswamy Subramanian
  • Published online:
    23 December 2021
    Print publication:
    16 December 2021
  • Magnetic fields permeate space and affect many major astrophysical phenomena, but they are often ignored due to their perceived complexity. This self-contained introduction to astrophysical magnetic fields provides both a comprehensive review of the current state of the subject and a critical discussion of the latest research. It presents our knowledge of magnetic fields from the Early Universe, their evolution in cosmic time through to their roles in present-day galaxies, galaxy clusters and the wider intergalactic medium, with attention given to both theory and observations. This volume also contains an extensive introduction into magnetohydrodynamics, numerous worked examples, observational and mathematical techniques and interpretations of the observations. Its review of our current knowledge, with an emphasis on results that are likely to form the basis for future progress, benefits a broad audience of advanced students and active researchers, including those from fields such as cosmology and general relativity.

Star-Formation Rates of Galaxies
  • Edited by Andreas Zezas, Véronique Buat
  • Published online:
    11 May 2021
    Print publication:
    29 April 2021
  • Star-formation is one of the key processes that shape the current state and evolution of galaxies. This volume provides a comprehensive presentation of the different methods used to measure the intensity of recent or on-going star-forming activity in galaxies, discussing their advantages and complications in detail. It includes a thorough overview of the theoretical underpinnings of star-formation rate indicators, including topics such as stellar evolution and stellar spectra, the stellar initial mass function, and the physical conditions in the interstellar medium. The authors bring together in one place detailed and comparative discussions of traditional and new star-formation rate indicators, star-formation rate measurements in different spatial scales, and comparisons of star-formation rate indicators probing different stellar populations, along with the corresponding theoretical background. This is a useful reference for students and researchers working in the field of extragalactic astrophysics and studying star-formation in local and higher-redshift galaxies.

The Impact of Binary Stars on Stellar Evolution
  • Edited by Giacomo Beccari, Henri M. J. Boffin
  • Published online:
    05 April 2019
    Print publication:
    18 April 2019
  • Stars are mostly found in binary and multiple systems, with at least 50% of all solar-like stars having companions; this fraction approaches 100% for the most massive stars. A large proportion of these systems interact and alter the structure and evolution of their components, leading to exotic objects such as Algol variables, blue stragglers and other chemically peculiar stars, but also to phenomena such as non-spherical planetary nebulae, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. While it is understood that binaries play a critical role in the Initial Mass Function, the interactions among binary systems significantly affect the dynamical evolution of stellar clusters and galaxies. This interdisciplinary volume presents results from state-of-the-art models and observations aimed at studying the impact of binaries on stellar evolution in resolved and unresolved populations. Serving as a bridge between observational and theoretical astronomy, it is a comprehensive review for researchers and advanced students of astrophysics.

Cosmic Magnetic Fields
  • Philipp P. Kronberg
  • Published online:
    22 September 2016
    Print publication:
    13 October 2016
  • Magnetic fields are important in the Universe and their effects contain the key to many astrophysical phenomena that are otherwise impossible to understand. This book presents an up-to-date overview of this fast-growing topic and its interconnections to plasma processes, astroparticle physics, high energy astrophysics, and cosmic evolution. The phenomenology and impact of magnetic fields are described in diverse astrophysical contexts within the Universe, from galaxies to galaxy clusters, the filaments and voids of the intergalactic medium, and out to the largest redshifts. The presentation of mathematical formulae is accessible and is designed to add insight into the broad range of topics discussed. Written for graduate students and researchers in physics, astrophysics and related disciplines, this volume will inspire readers to devise new ways of thinking about magnetic fields in space on galaxy scales and beyond.

Physics and Chemistry of Circumstellar Dust Shells
  • Hans-Peter Gail, Erwin Sedlmayr
  • Published online:
    18 December 2013
    Print publication:
    02 December 2013
  • Circumstellar dust, the astronomical dust that forms around a star, provides today's researchers with important clues for understanding how the Universe has evolved. This volume examines the structure, dynamics and observable consequences of the dust clouds surrounding highly evolved stars on the Giant Branch. Early chapters cover the physical and chemical basis of the formation of dust shells, the outflow of matter, and condensation processes, while offering detailed descriptions of techniques for calculating dust formation and growth. Later chapters showcase a wide range of modeling strategies, including chemical and radiative transfer and dust-induced non-linear dynamics, as well as the latest data obtained from AGB stars and other giants. This volume introduces graduate students and researchers to the theoretical description for modeling the dusty outflows from cool stars and provides a full understanding of the processes involved.

Gamma-ray Bursts
  • Edited by Chryssa Kouveliotou, Ralph A. M. J. Wijers, Stan Woosley
  • Published online:
    05 December 2012
    Print publication:
    22 November 2012
  • Cosmic gamma ray bursts (GRBs) have fascinated scientists and the public alike since their discovery in the late 1960s. Their story is told here by some of the scientists who participated in their discovery and, after many decades of false starts, solved the problem of their origin. Fourteen chapters by active researchers in the field present a detailed history of the discovery, a comprehensive theoretical description of GRB central engine and emission models, a discussion of GRB host galaxies and a guide to how GRBs can be used as cosmological tools. Observations are grouped into three sets from the satellites CGRO, BeppoSAX and Swift, and followed by a discussion of multi-wavelength observations. This is the first edited volume on GRB astrophysics that presents a fully comprehensive review of the subject. Utilizing the latest research, Gamma-ray Bursts is an essential desktop companion for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics.

Maser Sources in Astrophysics
  • Malcolm Gray
  • Published online:
    05 May 2012
    Print publication:
    26 April 2012
  • Masers are observed at a range of scales - from comets, through star-forming clouds, to galactic nuclei - and have many astrophysical applications, for example measuring cosmological distances. Written for postgraduate students and professional researchers in molecular astrophysics, this volume is an up-to-date survey of the theory and observations of astrophysical maser sources and their use as astronomical tools. The book summarizes the history of the discovery of various maser molecules and lines, and discusses maser observations on various scales. The theory is discussed in detail, including the quantum-mechanical response of the molecules, before being linked to more general radiation transfer. A discussion of spectral-line radio astronomy techniques shows how maser observations can be applied more generally to radio astronomy. The book introduces new and projected instruments, including ALMA and SKA. Additional topics address the radiation statistics of astrophysical masers, and numerical methods of analysis.

Astrophysical Jets and Beams
  • Michael D. Smith
  • Published online:
    05 March 2012
    Print publication:
    16 February 2012
  • Astrophysical jets are spectacular displays of gas or dust ejected from a range of cosmic bodies; they are seemingly ubiquitous on scales from comets to black holes. This volume reviews our understanding of jet processes and provides a modern guide to their observation and the role they play in many long-standing problems in astrophysics. It covers the major discoveries in gamma-ray bursts, solar and stellar jets and cometary jets. Specific physical processes for all classes of jet are illustrated and discussed in depth, as a backdrop to explaining spectacular jet images. Current jet models raise as many issues as they solve, so the final chapter looks at the new questions to be answered. Written at an entry level for postgraduate students, this volume incorporates introductions to all the governing physics, providing a comprehensive and insightful guide to the study of jets for researchers across all branches of astrophysics.

Pulsar Astronomy
  • 4th edition
  • Andrew Lyne, Francis Graham-Smith
  • Published online:
    05 March 2012
    Print publication:
    01 March 2012
  • Over the last 40 years, an astonishing range of astrophysics has become accessible through pulsar astronomy. The body of literature on this rapidly growing research area is vast and observational techniques now cover the whole of the electromagnetic spectrum. Now in its fourth edition, this authoritative volume gives a thorough introduction to the field. It is extensively revised throughout and new material includes: astrometry of binary pulsars and relativity theory; millisecond pulsars; the origin and Galactic population of pulsars and magnetars; and the pulsed emission from radio to gamma-rays. Within each topic, the authors concentrate on the fundamental physics and list extensive references, spanning from first discoveries to the most recent advances. Websites for catalogues of known pulsars are also recommended, providing a basis for new research work. The rapid pace of progress in pulsar astronomy makes this essential reading both for advanced students entering the field and established researchers.

Beams and Jets in Astrophysics
  • Edited by P. A. Hughes
  • Published online:
    01 March 2011
    Print publication:
    25 January 1991
  • This book is the first to provide students and researchers in the field of astrophysical jets with a comprehensive and up-to-date account of current research. An important feature of the book is that it combines discussions of both extragalactic and Galactic jets. There are ten chapters, authored by fourteen active researchers, each of whom is an expert on their chosen topic, and the book has been edited to provide a cohesive account of this field of study. This is the first volume to integrate studies of jets on all length scales. It will be an important textbook for graduate students, and a valuable reference source for researchers in many areas of extragalactic and Galactic astronomy. It will also be of interest to plasma physicists and space scientists.

The Magellanic Clouds
  • Bengt E. Westerlund
  • Published online:
    04 August 2010
    Print publication:
    27 February 1997
  • The Magellanic Clouds – a pair of nearby, satellite galaxies – are caught in a dynamic struggle internally and with our Milky Way. Given their close proximity, they offer a unique opportunity to study in detail the dynamics and composition of other galaxies. They have a long history of study, but interest in them has blossomed in the past four decades. This is the first book to provide a synthesised and comprehensive account of the Magellanic Clouds.This authoritative volume presents the latest understanding of the structure, evolution and dynamics of these satellite galaxies. It draws together wide-ranging observations in the X-ray, far-ultraviolet, infrared and millimetre wavelengths, including results from the Hubble Space Telescope.For graduate students and researchers, this timely edition provides a definitive reference on the Magellanic Clouds; it also gives useful supplementary reading for graduate courses on galaxies, the interstellar medium, stellar evolution and the chemical composition of galaxies.

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.

The Symbiotic Stars
  • S. J. Kenyon
  • Published online:
    26 May 2010
    Print publication:
    18 December 1986
  • Dr Kenyon has researched and assembled here all the existing data for the known symbiotic stars, in which a dwarf star accretes material from its red giant companion. In this book he summarises observational material covering the eruptive and quiescent phases of these objects, and emphasises the important astrophysical problems raised and resolved by results at infrared, optical, radio, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths. Physical models for the eruptive and quiescent phases and the long-term evolution of symbiotic stars are discussed, with the goal of developing observational diagnostics that serve to test the basic theories. The book concludes with a detailed appendix and bibliography that will aid researchers interested in the history of individual symbiotic systems and confirm this volume as an indispensable handbook at any observatory where research on stellar objects in undertaken.

X-ray Detectors in Astronomy
  • G. W. Fraser
  • Published online:
    21 May 2010
    Print publication:
    25 May 1989
  • First published in 1989, this book provides a comprehensive review of the detection techniques that are used in X-ray astronomy. Since the first discovery of a cosmic X-ray source in 1962, there has been rapid growth in X-ray astronomy, which has largely been made possible by enormous advances in the capabilities of photon counting instrumentation. The book describes the first 25 years of astronomical X-ray instrumentation and summarises the areas of current detector research, giving particular emphasis to imaging devices and to non-dispersive devices of high spectral resolution. It is the first book to give such a comprehensive treatment of the subject, and will provide astronomers with a valuable summary of detection techniques.

Cataclysmic Variable Stars
  • Brian Warner
  • Published online:
    23 December 2009
    Print publication:
    14 December 1995
  • The study of cataclysmic variables - interacting binary stars containing a white dwarf accreting from an orbiting companion - is undergoing an exciting renaissance, as it embraces observations at all wavelengths. Cataclysmic variables allow, in particular, the direct and detailed study of equilibrium and non-equilibrium accretion discs; in turn these developments also help in our understanding of X-ray binaries, black holes and active galactic nuclei. This timely volume provides the first comprehensive survey of cataclysmic variable stars, integrating theory and observation into a single, synthesised text. An introductory chapter gives the historical background of studies of cataclysmic variables. The author then goes on to give an up-to-date review of both the observations (at all wavelengths, and over all time-scales), the theories, the models of the structures and accretion processes believed to be involved. A very detailed bibliography is also provided to guide the reader to pertinent primary literature.

Quasar Astronomy
  • Daniel W. Weedman
  • Published online:
    18 December 2009
    Print publication:
    14 August 1986
  • This book utilises the author's twenty years of research experience to describe conclusions on the nature of quasars, their distribution, and their evolution in the universe. Concentrating on observational astrophysics rather than theory, Quasar Astronomy serves as both a summary of what is known about quasars and a guide to research methods and unanswered questions. After reviewing the cosmological framework and necessary equations, the book discusses all aspects of observed quasar properties. Techniques are summarised for analysing quasar data obtained with various kinds of telescopes and extensive references are given to recent publications. The major original contributions in chapters 5 and 6 deal with the distribution of quasars in spacetime, a subject extensively discussed in the current research literature. The book not only summarises existing results from various techniques but refers to the potentialities of new instruments that are presently being developed, resulting in a unified, up-to-date and practical account of the astronomy of quasars.

Ultraviolet and X-ray Spectroscopy of the Solar Atmosphere
  • Kenneth J. H. Phillips, Uri Feldman, Enrico Landi
  • Published online:
    07 December 2009
    Print publication:
    26 June 2008
  • The solar atmosphere, above the Sun's surface layers, reaches mega-kelvin temperatures and high levels of dynamic activity through processes involving a pervading magnetic field. This book explores one of the principal means of understanding the solar atmosphere, its ultraviolet and soft X-ray emission. The ultraviolet and X-ray spectra of the Sun's atmosphere provide valuable information about its nature - the heat and density of its various parts, its dynamics, and chemical composition. The principles governing spectral line and continuous emission, and how spectral studies lead to deductions about physical properties, are described, together with spacecraft instrumentation from Skylab, SolarMax, Yohkoh, SOHO, TRACE, and Hinode. With introductions to atomic physics and diagnostic techniques used by solar spectroscopists, a list of emission lines in ultraviolet and soft X-ray regions, and a glossary of terms, this is an ideal reference for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics and solar physics.

The Origin and Evolution of Planetary Nebulae
  • Sun Kwok
  • Published online:
    04 November 2009
    Print publication:
    25 May 2000
  • This authoritative volume provides a comprehensive review of the origin and evolution of planetary nebulae. It covers all the stages of their evolution, carefully synthesizes observations from across the spectrum, and clearly explains all the key physical processes at work. Particular emphasis is placed on observations from space, using the Hubble Space Telescope, the Infrared Space Observatory, and the ROSAT satellite. This book presents a thoroughly modern understanding of planetary nebulae, integrating developments in stellar physics with the dynamics of nebular evolution. It also describes exciting possibilities such as the use of planetary nebulae in determining the cosmic distance scale, the distribution of dark matter and the chemical evolution of galaxies. This book provides graduate students with an accessible introduction to planetary nebulae, and researchers with an authoritative reference. It can also be used as an advanced text on the physics of the interstellar medium.

Accretion Processes in Star Formation
  • 2nd edition
  • Lee Hartmann
  • Published online:
    30 October 2009
    Print publication:
    20 November 2008
  • Our understanding of the formation of stars and planetary systems has changed greatly since the first edition of this book was published. This new edition has been thoroughly updated, and now includes material on molecular clouds, binaries, star clusters and the stellar initial mass function (IMF), disk evolution and planet formation. This book provides a comprehensive picture of the formation of stars and planetary systems, from their beginnings in cold clouds of molecular gas to their emergence as new suns with planet-forming disks. At each stage gravity induces an inward accretion of mass, and this is a central theme for the book. The author brings together current observations, rigorous treatments of the relevant astrophysics, and 150 illustrations, to clarify the sequence of events in star and planet formation. It is a comprehensive account of the underlying physical processes of accretion for graduate students and researchers.

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