Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium
eBook - PDF

Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium

  1. 560 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium

About this book

An essential resource for graduate students and astrophysicists

This is a comprehensive and richly illustrated textbook on the astrophysics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium—the gas and dust, as well as the electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, and magnetic and gravitational fields, present between the stars in a galaxy and also between galaxies themselves.

Topics include radiative processes across the electromagnetic spectrum; radiative transfer; ionization; heating and cooling; astrochemistry; interstellar dust; fluid dynamics, including ionization fronts and shock waves; cosmic rays; distribution and evolution of the interstellar medium; and star formation. While it is assumed that the reader has a background in undergraduate-level physics, including some prior exposure to atomic and molecular physics, statistical mechanics, and electromagnetism, the first six chapters of the book include a review of the basic physics that is used in later chapters. This graduate-level textbook includes references for further reading, and serves as an invaluable resource for working astrophysicists.

  • Essential textbook on the physics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium
  • Based on a course taught by the author for more than twenty years at Princeton University
  • Covers radiative processes, fluid dynamics, cosmic rays, astrochemistry, interstellar dust, and more
  • Discusses the physical state and distribution of the ionized, atomic, and molecular phases of the interstellar medium
  • Reviews diagnostics using emission and absorption lines
  • Features color illustrations and detailed reference materials in appendices
  • Instructor's manual with problems and solutions (available only to teachers)

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Yes, you can access Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium by Bruce T. Draine in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Physical Sciences & Astronomy & Astrophysics. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. Preface
  7. 1. Introduction
  8. 2. Collisional Processes
  9. 3. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamic Equilibrium
  10. 4. Energy Levels of Atoms and Ions
  11. 5. Energy Levels of Molecules
  12. 6. Spontaneous Emission, Stimulated Emission, and Absorption
  13. 7. Radiative Transfer
  14. 8. HI 21-cm Emission and Absorption
  15. 9. Absorption Lines: The Curve of Growth
  16. 10. Emission and Absorption by a Thermal Plasma
  17. 11. Propagation of Radio Waves through the ISM
  18. 12. Interstellar Radiation Fields
  19. 13. Ionization Processes
  20. 14. Recombination of Ions with Electrons
  21. 15. Photoionized Gas
  22. 16. Ionization in Predominantly Neutral Regions
  23. 17. Collisional Excitation
  24. 18. Nebular Diagnostics
  25. 19. Radiative Trapping
  26. 20. Optical Pumping
  27. 21. Interstellar Dust: Observed Properties
  28. 22. Scattering and Absorption by Small Particles
  29. 23. Composition of Interstellar Dust
  30. 24. Temperatures of Interstellar Grains
  31. 25. Grain Physics: Charging and Sputtering
  32. 26. Grain Dynamics
  33. 27. Heating and Cooling of HII Regions
  34. 28. The Orion HII Region
  35. 29. HI Clouds: Observations
  36. 30. HI Clouds: Heating and Cooling
  37. 31. Molecular Hydrogen
  38. 32. Molecular Clouds: Observations
  39. 33. Molecular Clouds: Chemistry and Ionization
  40. 34. Physical Processes in Hot Gas
  41. 35. Fluid Dynamics
  42. 36. Shock Waves
  43. 37. ⋆ Ionization/Dissociation Fronts
  44. 38. ⋆ Stellar Winds
  45. 39. Effects of Supernovae on the ISM
  46. 40. ⋆ Cosmic Rays and Gamma Rays
  47. 41. Gravitational Collapse and Star Formation: Theory
  48. 42. Star Formation: Observations
  49. Appendices
  50. Bibliography
  51. Index