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Compact Stars (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library)
by Norman K. Glendenning
Available from Powells Used Books
$136.95
on 10-15-2008
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Features
ISBN Number: 9780387989778
Written by: Glendenning, Norman K.
Published by: Springer
Location: New York
Subject: Astrophysics & Space Science
Subject: Astronomy
Subject: Nuclear Physics
Subject: General relativity (physics)
Subject: Neutron stars
Subject: White dwarfs.
Subject: General relativity
Subject: Astronomy, General
Subject: Compact objects (Astronomy)
Edition Number: 2
Series: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library
Series Volume: OF 99-501
Date of Publication: June 2000
Cover Type: Hardcover
Written in: English
Illustrations: Yes
Number of Pages: 467
Book Size: 959x640x114 176
"White dwarfs, neutron stars, and low mass black holes are the collapsed cores of luminous stars which have shed most of their mass in a nova or supernova explosion. Gravity crushes matter in these collapses objects to densities millions of times greater than Earth, far beyond present empirical knowledge. In this superdense environment, otherwise prevalent only in the early universe, numerous particle processes may occur: the conversion of nucleons to hyperons; Bose condensation; and quark deconfinement. This book explores the diverse forms that the densest forms of stable stars can take, constrained by emperical evidence provided by nuclear mattrer properties as deducted from the nuclei, and by the laws of nature as emobodied by general principles such as causality, microstability of matter, and the asymptotic freedom of quarks at high density. The book is self contained. Gerneal Relativity is concisley developed together with essential aspects of nuclear and particle physics. The theory if white dwarfs, nuetron stars, and back holes is introduced with background material on such topics as stellar formation and evolution; important discoveries concerning pulsars; and the strange-matter hypothesis. The physics of neutron star interiors (nonrotating and rotating)is treated in detail together with some more exotic hyperon stars, hybrid stars (consisting of a quark matter core surrounded by an intricate lattice of quark and hadronic matter), a possible third family of compact stars more dense than neutron stars, and strange stars and dwarfs cmposed of hypothetically stable quark matter. The astonishing progress in radio and X-ray astronomy puts the study of neutron starsinto a complementary and competitive role with collider experiments in ferreting out the nature of superdense matter much as it existed in the early universe. This second edition has been revised throughout, including additional figures, sections, and two new chapters on ""Bose Condensates"" amd on ""Consequences and Signals of Phase Transitions."" Problem sets are provided for many chapters. Making the book ideal for a course on the physics of white dwarf and neuton star interiors, beginning with the foundations of General Relativity developed through to relativistic stars." Synopsis: Neutron stars are the smallest densest stars known, with densities some trillion times that of the Earth. They rotate with periods of fractions of a second, and their magnetic fields drive intense interstellar dynamos, lighting up entire nebulae. This book discusses the physics of these extreme objects, and reviews the essential aspects of nuclear and particle physics. This second edition has been thoroughly revised and brought up-to-date, with several new sections on Bose condensates in neutron stars and on phase transitions. Synopsis: White dwarfs, neutron stars, and (solar mass) black holes are the collapsed cores of stars which, near the ends of their luminous lives, have shed most of their mass in supernova explosions or other, less spectacular, instabilities. Here gravity crushes matter to realms that lie far beyond present empirical knowledge. This book explores the diverse forms that such compact stars can possibly take, as constrained by the laws of nature: the general principles of relativity and quantum mechanics, the properties of nuclear matter deduced from nuclei, and the asymptotic freedom of quarks at high density. The book is self contained. It reviews general relativity, essential aspects of nuclear and particle physics, and general features of white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes; it includes background on such matters as stellar formation and evolution, the discovery of pulsars and associated phenomena, and the strange-matter hypothesis. The book develops a theory for the constitution of neutron stars and the more exotic Hyperon Stars, Hybrid Stars (containing a quark matter core surrounded by an intricate lattice of quark and hadronic matter) and Strange Stars and Dwarfs (composed of the three light quark flavors sheathed in a solid skin of heavy ions). This second edition has been revised throughout to clarify discussions and bring data up to date; it includes new figures, several new sections, and new chapters on Bose condensates in neutron stars and on phase transitions.
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