Overview
- Authors:
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Michael A. Dopita
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Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Ralph S. Sutherland
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Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- The only textbook to develop the subject matter in a pedagogical approach based on successively more complex physical systems found in the diffuse universe
- Astrophysics is treated as a practical application of physics
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
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Table of contents (14 chapters)
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 1-9
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 11-40
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 41-57
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 59-100
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 101-123
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 125-142
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 143-174
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 175-217
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 219-248
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 249-276
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 277-288
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 289-324
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 325-341
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- Michael A. Dopita, Ralph S. Sutherland
Pages 343-375
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Back Matter
Pages 377-441
About this book
Our purpose in writing this book is to show how physics has been applied to developing our current understanding of the phase structure, physical condi tions, chemical makeup and, evolution of the (thermal) interstellar medium. We hope it provides an up-to-date overview which postgraduates, advanced undergraduates, and professionals in astrophysics can use as a "reference of first resort" before going on to read the more specialist monographs or research literature. We have covered the exciting observational results, but without consideration of the experimental techniques or instruments required. An elementary understanding of mathematical physics and of quantum me chanics has been assumed, and a knowledge of basic astrophysics would be helpful. Older textbooks on interstellar physics have tended to develop the subject matter in an order which reflects the historical development of the field. Here a more pedagological approach has been adopted, based on our lecture course experience. We cover successively more complex physical systems found in the diffuse universe. Detailed mathematical rigour is eschewed in favour of provid ing the reader with a basic physical insight into these systems. Astrophysical problems are treated as practical applications of the physics. In practice, the material is generally ranked in order of decreasing entropy, since the hottest and most diffuse phases tend to be physically less complex.
