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Eight carefully written articles on the interactions between the ideas and concepts of particle physics and those of astrophysics make up this book. Two long introductory lectures give a survey of modern concepts in particle physics and in astrophysics and cosmology, stressing features of common interest. The other six contributions deal with the physics of supernova explosions, with black holes, with neutrino oscillations, with the importance of phase transitions for the large-scale structure of the Universe, and with the use of the ideas of quantum gravity for computer simulations. These rather detailed review articles will be of value for many years to come. The book is intended for graduate students and researchers both in particle physics and in astrophysics.
List of contents
and Survey I: Concepts from Particle Physics.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Standard Model of Elektro-Weak and Strong Interaction.- 3. Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking.- 4. Topologically Stable Configurations (Defects).- 5. Transitions Between Different Ground States (Vacua).- 6. Restoration of Spontaneously Broken Symmetries at Finite Temperatures.- 7. Grand Unified Theories.- 8. Photon Splitting in a Strong Magnetic Field.- 9. Candidates for Dark Matter from Particle Physics.- References.- and Survey II: Concepts from Astrophysics and Cosmology.- 1. Stellar Evolution.- 2. The Standard Big Bang Model of the Universe.- 3. Formation of Large-Scale Structure in the Universe.- References.- Physics of Type II Supernova Explosions.- I. Introduction and Historical Remarks.- II. Some Observational Facts.- III. Presupernova Evolution of Massive Stars.- IV. Physics of Stellar Collapse, Shock Energy.- V. Neutrino Radiation.- VI. Basic Equations for Gravitational Collapse.- VII. Prompt and Delayed Explosions.- VIII. Conclusions and Supplementary Remarks.- Appendix A. Energy-Momentum Conservation.- Appendix B. Core Instabilities.- Appendix C. Diffusion Approximation, Flux-Limited Diffusion.- Appendix D. Plasma-Neutrino Process.- References.- Evidence for Black Holes.- I. Introduction.- II. Mechanics of Binary Systems.- III. Upper Bound for the Mass of a Neutron Star.- IV. Three Black Hole Candidates.- References.- Principles of Black Hole Energetics.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Model of Gravitational Collapse.- 3. Positive Energy Theorems.- 4. Hawking Effect.- 5. Calculations of T?v.- 6. Model of Back Reaction.- References.- Quantum Gravity Motivated Computer Simulations.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Regge-Einstein Action and Quantization.- 3. The Monte Carlo Method.- 4. A Simulation with theRegge-Einstein Action.- 5. Higher Derivative Gravity.- 6. De Sitter Lattice Gravity.- 7. Conclusions and Outlook.- Appendix A: Some Parameters and Constants.- Appendix B: Basic Geometry.- References.- Neutrino Oscillations and Their Damping.- 1. Particle Oscillations.- 2. Effects of a Medium.- 3. Adiabatic Case.- 4. Damping of Particle Oscillations.- References.- Phase Transitions as the Origin of Large Scale Structure in the Universe.- 1. Very Large Scale Structure and Gravity.- 2. Phase Transitions, Defects and Fluctuations.- References.
