An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics aspires to provide the reader with an intermediate knowledge on stars whilst focusing mostly on the explanation of the functioning of stars by using basic physical concepts and observational results.
The book is divided into seven chapters, featuring both core and optional content:
- Basic concepts
- Stellar Formation
- Radiative Transfer in Stars
- Stellar Atmospheres
- Stellar Interiors
- Nucleosynthesis and Stellar Evolution and
- Chemically Peculiar Stars and Diffusion.
Student-friendly features include:
- Detailed examples to help the reader better grasp the most important concepts
- A list of exercises is given at the end of each chapter and answers to a selection of these are presented.
- Brief recalls of the most important physical concepts needed to properly understand stars.
- A summary for each chapter
- Optional and advanced sections are included which may be skipped without interfering with the flow of the core content.
This book is designed to cover the most important aspects of stellar astrophysics inside a one semester (or half-year) course and as such is relevant for advanced undergraduate students following a first course on stellar astrophysics, in physics or astronomy programs. It will also serve as a basic reference for a full-year course as well as for researchers working in related fields.
- Professors and lecturers may obtain the solutions manual for the exercises found in this book by contacting the author at francis.leblanc@umoncton.ca .
- An erratum for this book may be found here.
- Supplementary exercises are found here.
- Electronic versions of the Figures and Color Plates used in the book may be downloaded here.
This textbook has been used at a large number of universities including Harvard U., Stanford U., Cambridge U., Caltech, Berkeley, U. of Texas, UCLA, Keele U., U. of Western Ontario, U. of Tokyo, U. of Leiden, Michigan State U., U. of Pennsylvania, U. de Montréal, U. of Warsaw, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, U. Libre de Bruxelles, U. of Victoria, U. of Oklahoma, Chinese U. of Hong Kong, U. of North Carolina, Wesleyan U., Villanova U., College of Charleston, U. Illes Balears, U. Degli Studi di Perugia, Minnesota State U., U. of Missouri, U. of Hawaii, Federal U. of Utajubà and others.
Review:
"An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics is a welcome addition to existing books on this subject . . .Overall, a very good book. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers/faculty. " (Choice, July 1, 2011)