Bücher der Reihe Astronomy and Planetary Sciences

Beginning with basic facts about the observable universe, this book reviews the complete range of topics that make up a degree course in cosmology and particle astrophysics. This paperback edition targets students of physics, astrophysics and cosmology from advanced undergraduate to early graduate level.

The main theme of the book is the presentation of techniques used to identify chaotic behavior in the evolution of conservative mechanical systems and their application to astronomical systems. It results from graduate courses given by the author over the years both at university and at several international summer schools.Along the book surfaces of section, Lyapunov characteristic exponents, frequency maps, MEGNO, dense grid maps, etc., are presented and discussed in connection with the applications. The initial chapter is devoted to the presentation of the main ideas of the chaotic dynamics of conservative systems in plain language so that they can be accessible to a wide range of professionals and students of physical sciences. The applications are mainly related to the motions in the solar system and extrasolar planetary systems.Another chapter is devoted to the applications to asteroids showing how the asteroidal belt is sculpted by chaos and resonances. The contrasting existence of gaps in the distribution of the asteroids and groups of asteroids in resonances is thoroughly discussed. The interest in applications to planetary systems is growing since the discovery of systems of resonant planets around some stars of the solar neighborhood. Exoplanets added a lot of cases to a problem that was before restricted to the planets of our solar system. The book includes an account of results already existing about compact systems.

"e;Astrophysics Updates"e; is intended to serve the information needs of professional astronomers and postgraduate students about areas of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology that are rich and active research spheres. Observational methods and the latest results of astronomical research are presented as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations. The contributed commissioned articles are written by leading exponents in a format that will appeal to professional astronomers and astrophysicists who are interested in topics outside their own specific areas of research. This collection of timely reviews may also attract the interest of advanced amateur astronomers seeking scientifically rigorous coverage.

The Ulysses observations have charted the heliosphere around the minimum in the 11 year cycle of solar activity, revealing the large scale properties of the heliospheric medium and its micro-scale characteristics. This book presents for the first time, a comprehensive review of the results of the Ulysses mission.The first chapter provides an overview of the region, introducing the heliosphere prior to the Ulysses mission, and the objectives and characteristics of the mission itself. Subsequent chapters discuss in detail specific areas of the heliosphere, including the solar wind, large and small scale features, cosmic rays and energetic particles, and the observations of interstellar gas and cosmic dust. Each of these chapters is written by members of the Ulysses science team, concentrating on their own areas of expertise, and is written in a clear and accessible way.In this book, the authors aim to summarise our understanding of the heliosphere near solar minimum and to provide the basis for understanding the more complex state of the heliosphere around solar maximum, which will be observed during the next phase of the Ulysses mission.

Markus Aschwanden introduces the concept of self-organized criticality (SOC) and shows that due to its universality and ubiquity it is a law of nature for which he derives the theoretical framework and specific physical models in this book.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of stellar structure, evolution and basic stellar properties.

Today they can be done using self-designed spectrographs and highly efficient CCD cameras, without the need for large financial investments.This book explains the basic principles of spectroscopy, including the fundamental optical constraints and all mathematical aspects needed to understand the working principles in detail.

The new edition of this comprehensive reference on astronomy observation methods and techniques includes recent developments in astronomical detectors and instrumentation, from the invention of the CCD in 1970 to the current era of huge telescopes.

Understanding how the Sun changes though its 11-year sunspot cycle and how these changes affect the vast space around the Sun - the heliosphere - has been one of the principal objectives of space research since the advent of the space age.

This book takes a new approach on teaching the subject by following the chain of measurement through atmosphere, imaging, detection, spectroscopy, timing and hypothesis testing. It covers all wavelengths: radio, infrared, optical, UV, X-ray, gamma-ray.

This book begins by reviewing quasars, microquasars, and gamma-ray bursts and shows why black holes are responsible for them. It describes simple, isolated black holes, adding rotation, accretion, radiation and magnetic fields, to show how these objects work.

This book reviews the current state of knowledge of the atmospheres of the giant gaseous planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. This second edition has been extensively updated in light of what has newly been discovered by the Cassini probe.

This book discusses the beginnings of the process of galaxy formation from cosmological observations and calculations. It also considers the broad features of galaxies that we need to explain and what we know of their later history.

GRBs remain a subject of fascination for scientists, despite having been known about for 35 years. Both authors have been active in GRB observations for more than two decades, so this is an outstanding account of the history and perspectives of GRB research.

This book offers a uniform collection of probe and CCD terrestrial images for each lunar dome, and presents information on morphological measurements and rheologic properties including a novel classification system and a new map of the distribution of domes.

This book reviews the past 50 years of SETI searches. It demonstrates high level mathematical techniques for the solution of a variety of SETI problems. Includes a full mathematical derivation of the Statistical Drake Equation and describes its applications.

This overview of classical celestial mechanics focuses the interplay with dynamical systems. Paradigmatic models introduce key concepts - order, chaos, invariant curves and cantori - followed by the investigation of dynamical systems with numerical methods.

This textbook looks at gravitational lensing, which has become an invaluable tool in modern astrophysics, from finding planets orbiting distant stars to understanding how dark matter and dark energy conspired to form the galaxies and cosmic structures we see today. Principles of Gravitational Lensing begins with EinsteinΓÇÖs prediction that mass bends light, and shows how this simple idea has gone from theoretical curiosity to observational science in under a century. It describes how the three subfields known as strong lensing, weak lensing, and microlensing have grown independently but become increasingly intertwined. Drawing on their research experience, Congdon and Keeton present the mathematical foundation of gravitational lensing to beginning graduate and advanced undergraduate students with a background in physics. The derivations and explanations are supplemented by exercises at the end of each chapter. The treatment is self-contained and comprehensive. Principles of Gravitational Lensing is ideal for students and seasoned researchers looking to penetrate this thriving subject and even contribute research of their own. Certain properties of stars and planets could be seen with the naked eye, but the full beauty and complexity of the cosmos was revealed only with the advent of the telescope. Today, astronomers recognize that gravity can bend light rays, creating enormous ΓÇ£cosmic telescopesΓÇ¥ that help us probe aspects of the universe that are otherwise invisible. While various monographs and lecture compilations on the subject have appeared, a comprehensive didactic account that assumes only a background in undergraduate physics has so far been lacking. This book begins with the basic physics of light bending and builds up to current research topics in a clear and systematic way. Relevant background material from physics and mathematics is included, making the book self-contained. Exercises at the end of each chapter are carefully designed to help students master the theoretical concepts and methods that drive research in gravitational lensing. An extensive bibliography guides those wishing to delve more deeply into particular areas of interest. 

Examines each of these parameters in crucial depth and makes the argument that life forms we would recognize may be more common in our solar system than many assume. Considers exotic forms of life that would not have to rely on carbon as the basic chemical element, solar energy as the main energy source, or water as the primary solvent and the question of detecting bio- and geosignatures of such life forms, ranging from earth environments to deep space.Seeks an operational definition of life and investigate the realm of possibilities that nature offers to realize this very special state of matter. Avoids scientific jargon wherever possible to make this intrinsically interdisciplinary subject understandable to a broad range of readers.

Written by leading exponents in the field, this collection of timely reviews presents observational methods and the latest results of astronomical research as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations, providing information and scientifically rigorous coverage.

There has been very considerable progress in research into low-mass stars, brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets during the past few years, particularly since the fist edtion of this book was published in 2000.

A thorough introduction to solar physics based on recent spacecraft observations. The author introduces the solar corona and sets it in the context of basic plasma physics before moving on to discuss plasma instabilities and plasma heating processes.

Even a suitable skeptic of certain pronouncements about the age and structure of the Universe should be pleased with the large steps that have been taken in furthering our understanding of the Universe since the early 1990's. In short, the Universe of our expectations rarely matches the Universe as it is discovered.