Astrophysics in a nutshell
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
zbMATH Open document ID: 1339.85001
author: Dan Maoz
publication date: 2016-03-16T00:00:00Z
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 85-01
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 85A04
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 85A05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 85A15
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 85A40
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 85A30
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83F05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83C75
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83C57
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83-02
zbMATH DE Number: 6557080
zbMATH Keywords: astrophysics
zbMATH Keywords: observational astrophysical techniques
zbMATH Keywords: stars
zbMATH Keywords: stellar evolution
zbMATH Keywords: extrasolar planets
zbMATH Keywords: Milky Way
zbMATH Keywords: galaxies
zbMATH Keywords: cosmological observations
zbMATH Keywords: Big Bang cosmology
zbMATH Keywords: interstellar medium
zbMATH Keywords: dark matter
zbMATH Keywords: dark energy
zbMATH Keywords: gravitational lensing
zbMATH Keywords: white dwarf
zbMATH Keywords: neutron star
zbMATH Keywords: black hole
zbMATH Keywords: compact objects
zbMATH Keywords: binary star
zbMATH Keywords: telescopes photometry
zbMATH Keywords: spectroscopy
zbMATH Keywords: polarimetry
zbMATH Keywords: blackbody radiation
zbMATH Keywords: Hertzsprung-Russel diagram
zbMATH Keywords: stellar luminosity
zbMATH Keywords: hydrostatic stellar model
zbMATH Keywords: main-sequence star
zbMATH Keywords: sun
zbMATH Keywords: stellar environment
zbMATH Keywords: accretion
zbMATH Keywords: shock waves
zbMATH Keywords: cosmic rays
zbMATH Keywords: Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric
zbMATH Keywords: Friedmann equations of cosmology
zbMATH Keywords: cosmological parameter
zbMATH Keywords: vacuum energy
zbMATH Keywords: Hubble's law
zbMATH Keywords: cosmological redshift
zbMATH Keywords: baryon acoustic oscillation
zbMATH Keywords: cosmic microwave background
zbMATH Keywords: nucleosynthesis of light elements
zbMATH Keywords: quasars
MaRDI profile type: Publication
title: Astrophysics in a nutshell
review text: ``Astrophysics in a nutshell'' is the winner of the American Astronomical Society's Chambliss Award. It has become the text of choice in astrophysics courses at top universities in North America and beyond. The new, extended and fully updated second edition contains a new chapter on extrasolar planets, a greatly expanded chapter on the interstellar medium, fully updated facts and figures on all subjects, from the observed properties of white dwarfs to the latest results from precision cosmology, and additional instructive problem sets.NEWLINENEWLINEThe book is a brief but thorough introduction to the observational data and theoretical concepts underlying modern astronomy. It covers the essentials of modern astrophysics, emphasizing the common physical principles that govern astronomical phenomena. It shows the interplay between theory and observation -- while also introducing subjects at the forefront of modern research, including black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and gravitational lensing.NEWLINENEWLINEThe book uses simple, short, and clear derivations of physical results. It trains students in the essential skills of order of magnitude analysis. The text assumes familiarity with differential equations, classical and quantum mechanics, special relativity, theory of waves, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. The author excluded from the book almost all descriptions of historical developments of the various astrophysical topics. He presented the topics concisely, as they are understood today.NEWLINENEWLINEIn addition to serving as a course textbook, ``Astrophysics in a nutshell'' is an ideal review for a qualifying exam and a handy reference for teachers and researchers. In detail, the book consists of ten chapters. It starts with Chapter 1 on observational astrophysical techniques, considers stars and stellar physics, extrasolar planets, the Milky Way and other galaxies, basic cosmological observations, and ends with tests and probes of the Big Bang cosm…
reviewed by: Claudia-Veronika Meister
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6557080