Stellar Interiors Physical Principles, Structure, and Evolution

This text, updated and expanded from the first edition, is designed for beginning students of stellar physics, and introduces the fundamentals of stellar structure and evolution. In emphasizing the general picture of the life cycles of stars and the physics responsible, it also allows prospective sp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hansen, Carl J., Kawaler, Steven D. (Author), Trimble, Virginia (Author)
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: New York, NY Springer New York 2004, 2004
Edition:2nd ed. 2004
Series:Astronomy and Astrophysics Library
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: Springer Book Archives -2004 - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Table of Contents:
  • 10 Structure and Evolution of White Dwarfs
  • 10.1 Observed Properties of White Dwarfs
  • 10.2 White Dwarf Evolution
  • 10.3 The Magnetic White Dwarfs
  • 10.4 The Variable White Dwarfs
  • 10.5 Exercises
  • 10.6 References and Suggested Readings
  • A Mini Stellar Glossary
  • B Table of Symbols and Physical Constants
  • C List of Journal Abbreviations
  • 2.16 Exercises
  • 2.17 References and Suggested Readings
  • 3 Equations of State
  • 3.1 Distribution Functions
  • 3.2 Blackbody Radiation
  • 3.3 Ideal Monatomic Gas
  • 3.4 The Saha Equation
  • 3.5 Fermi-Dirac Equations of State
  • 3.6 “Almost Perfect” Equations of State
  • 3.7 Adiabatic Exponents and Other Derivatives
  • 3.8 Exercises
  • 3.9 References and Suggested Readings
  • 4 Radiative and Conductive Heat Transfer
  • 4.1 Radiative Transfer
  • 4.2 The Diffusion Equation
  • 4.3 A Simple Atmosphere
  • 4.4 Radiative Opacity Sources
  • 4.5 Heat Transfer by Conduction
  • 4.6 Tabulated Opacities
  • 4.7 Some Observed Spectra
  • 4.8 Line Profiles and the Curve of Growth
  • 4.9 Exercises
  • 4.10 References and Suggested Readings
  • 5 Heat Transfer by Convection
  • 5.1 The Mixing Length Theory
  • 5.2 Variations on the MLT
  • 5.3 HydrodynamicCalculations
  • 5.4 Exercises
  • 5.5 References and Suggested Readings
  • 6 Stellar Energy Sources
  • 6.1 Gravitational Energy Sources
  • 1 Preliminaries
  • 1.1 Hydrostatic Equilibrium
  • 1.2 An Energy Principle
  • 1.3 The Virial Theorem and Its Applications
  • 1.4 The Constant-Density Model
  • 1.5 Energy Generation and Transport
  • 1.6 Stellar Dimensional Analysis
  • 1.7 Evolutionary Lifetimes on the Main Sequence
  • 1.8 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
  • 1.9 Summary Remarks
  • 1.10 Exercises
  • 1.11 References and Suggested Readings
  • 2 An Overview of Stellar Evolution
  • 2.1 Young Stellar Objects (YSOs)
  • 2.2 The Zero-Age Main Sequence (ZAMS)
  • 2.3 Leaving the Main Sequence
  • 2.4 Red Giants and Supergiants
  • 2.5 Helium Flash or Fizzle
  • 2.6 Later Phases, Initial Masses M ?6?10 M?
  • 2.7 Advanced Phases, Initial Masses M ?6?10 M?
  • 2.8 Core Collapse and Nucleosynthesis
  • 2.9 Variable Stars: A Brief Overview
  • 2.10 Pulsational Variables
  • 2.11 Explosive Variables
  • 2.12 White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes
  • 2.13 Binary Stars
  • 2.14 Star Formation
  • 2.15 Supplemental Material
  • 6.2 Thermonuclear Energy Sources
  • 6.3 The Proton-Proton Chains
  • 6.4 The Carbon-Nitrogen-Oxygen Cycles
  • 6.5 Helium-Burning Reactions
  • 6.6 Carbon, Neon, and Oxygen Burning
  • 6.7 Silicon “Burning”
  • 6.8 Neutrino Emission Mechanisms
  • 6.9 Exercises
  • 6.10 References and Suggested Readings
  • 7 Stellar Modeling
  • 7.1 The Equations of Stellar Structure
  • 7.2 Polytropic Equations of State and Polytropes
  • 7.3 The Approach to Real Models
  • 7.4 Exercises
  • 7.5 References and Suggested Readings
  • 8 Asteroseismology
  • 8.1 Adiabatic Radial Pulsations
  • 8.2 Nonadiabatic Radial Motions
  • 8.3 An Introduction to Nonradial Oscillations
  • 8.4 Exercises
  • 8.5 References and Suggested Readings
  • 9 Structure and Evolution of the Sun
  • 9.1 Vital Statistics of the Sun
  • 9.2 From the ZAMS to the Present
  • 9.3 The Solar Neutrino “Problem”
  • 9.4 The Role of Rotation in Evolution
  • 9.5 Helioseismology
  • 9.6 References and Suggested Readings