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This long-awaited second edition of the classical textbook on Stellar Structure and Evolution by Kippenhahn and Weigert is a thoroughly revised version of the original text. Taking into account modern observational constraints as well as additional physical effects such as mass loss and diffusion, Achim Weiss and Rudolf Kippenhahn have succeeded in bringing the book up to the state-of-the-art with respect to both the presentation of stellar physics and the presentation and interpretation of current sophisticated stellar models. The well-received and proven pedagogical approach of the first edition has been retained.
The book provides a comprehensive treatment of the physics of the stellar interior and the underlying fundamental processes and parameters. The models developed to explain the stability, dynamics and evolution of the stars are presented and great care is taken to detail the various stages in a star's life. Just as the first edition, which remained astandard work for more than 20 years after its first publication, the second edition will be of lasting value not only for students but also for active researchers in astronomy and astrophysics.
List of contents
Part I The Basic Equations.- 1 Coordinates, Mass Distribution, and Gravitational Field in Spherical Stars.- 2 Conservation of Momentum.- 3 The Virial Theorem.- 4 Conservation of Energy.- 5 Transport of Energy by Radiation and Conduction.- 6 Stability Against Local, Non-spherical Perturbations.- 7 Transport of Energy by Convection.- 8 The Chemical Composition.- 9 Mass Loss.- Part II The Overall Problem.- 10 The Differential Equations of Stellar Evolution.- 11 Boundary Conditions.- 12 Numerical Procedure.- Part III Properties of Stellar Matter.- 13 The Perfect Gas with Radiation.- 14 Ionization.- 15 The Degenerate Electron Gas.- 16 The Equation of State of Stellar Matter.- 17 Opacity.- 18 Nuclear Energy Production.- Part IV Simple Stellar Models.- 19 Polytropic Gaseous Spheres.- 20 Homology Relations.- 21 Simple Models in the U-V Plane.- 22 The Zero Age Main-Sequence.- 23 Other Main-Sequences.- 24 The Hayashi Line.- 25 Stability Considerations.- Part V Early Stellar Evolution.- 26 The Onset of Star Formation.- 27 The Formation of Protostars.- 28 Pre-Main-Sequence Contraction.- 29 From the Initial to the Present Sun.- 30 Evolution on the Main-Sequence.- Part VI Post-Main-Sequence Evolution.- 31 Evolution Through Helium Burning - Intermediate-Mass Stars.- 32 Evolution Through Helium Burning - Massive Stars.- 33 Evolution Through Helium Burning - Low-Mass Stars.- Part VII Late Phases of Stellar Evolution.- 34 Evolution on the Asymptotic Giant Branch.- 35 Later Phases of Core Evolution.- 36 Final Explosions and Collapse.- Part VIII Compact Objects.- 37 White Dwarfs.- 38 Neutron Stars.- 39 Black Holes.- Part IX Pulsating Stars.- 40 Adiabatic Spherical Pulsations.- 41 Non-adiabatic Spherical Pulsations.- 42 Non-radial Stellar Oscillations.- Part X Stellar Rotation.- 43 The Mechanics of Rotating Stellar Models.- 44 The Thermodynamics of Rotating Stellar Models.- 45 The Angular-Velocity Distribution in Stars.- References.- Index.
About the author
Rudolf Kippenhahn, geboren 1926 in Bärringen/Tschechoslowakei, studierte Mathematik, war u. a. Mitarbeiter der Bamberger Sternwarte, Professor für Astronomie in Göttingen, zuletzt Direktor des Max-Planck-Instituts für Astrophysik in Garching. Rudolf Kippenhahn lebt in Göttingen.
Summary
This long-awaited second edition of the classical textbook on Stellar Structure and Evolution by Kippenhahn and Weigert is a thoroughly revised version of the original text. Taking into account modern observational constraints as well as additional physical effects such as mass loss and diffusion, Achim Weiss and Rudolf Kippenhahn have succeeded in bringing the book up to the state-of-the-art with respect to both the presentation of stellar physics and the presentation and interpretation of current sophisticated stellar models. The well-received and proven pedagogical approach of the first edition has been retained.
The book provides a comprehensive treatment of the physics of the stellar interior and the underlying fundamental processes and parameters. The models developed to explain the stability, dynamics and evolution of the stars are presented and great care is taken to detail the various stages in a star’s life. Just as the first edition, which remained astandard work for more than 20 years after its first publication, the second edition will be of lasting value not only for students but also for active researchers in astronomy and astrophysics.
Additional text
From the reviews of the second edition:
“‘Stellar Structure and Evolution’ is a mathematical and theoretical look at stellar physics. … As a textbook I found this clear and concise, containing all the important topics … and as such is an essential learning material for students of astrophysics, but also a good reference-work to fall back upon if something needs to be reminded. Because of it’s structure and the way the concepts are presented it also makes for a good textbook for independent study … .” (Kadri Tinn, AstroMadness.com, March, 2014)
“There is an enormous amount of physics and astronomy in this second edition, more … than a typical first-year-graduate class, or instructor, can master in a semester. Some of the material cannot easily be found in other books … . Certainly, anyone planning to teach the subject should have the book … .” (Virginia Trimble, The Observatory, Vol. 133 (1233), April, 2013)
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From the reviews of the second edition:
"'Stellar Structure and Evolution' is a mathematical and theoretical look at stellar physics. ... As a textbook I found this clear and concise, containing all the important topics ... and as such is an essential learning material for students of astrophysics, but also a good reference-work to fall back upon if something needs to be reminded. Because of it's structure and the way the concepts are presented it also makes for a good textbook for independent study ... ." (Kadri Tinn, AstroMadness.com, March, 2014)
"There is an enormous amount of physics and astronomy in this second edition, more ... than a typical first-year-graduate class, or instructor, can master in a semester. Some of the material cannot easily be found in other books ... . Certainly, anyone planning to teach the subject should have the book ... ." (Virginia Trimble, The Observatory, Vol. 133 (1233), April, 2013)
