Astrophysics through Computation: With Mathematica Support

Half Title......Page 2
Dedication......Page 3
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Table of Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 9
1.1 Fundamental stellar properties......Page 12
1.2 Determination of stellar mass......Page 15
1.3 Kinetic theory......Page 18
1.4 Special relativity......Page 23
1.5 Image processing......Page 32
Exercises......Page 38
2.1 Radiative transfer and the flow of photons through matter......Page 41
2.2 Formal solution of radiative transfer......Page 46
2.3 The gray-body approximation......Page 52
2.4 Continuous opacity in a real hydrogen star......Page 60
2.5 The case of spectrum lines......Page 63
Exercises......Page 69
3.1 The hydrostatic model......Page 72
3.2 The polytropic star......Page 76
3.3 Stellar populations......Page 82
3.4 The virial theorem and stellar structure......Page 91
3.5 Fusion in the stellar core......Page 100
3.6 Beyond the polytropic model......Page 108
Exercises......Page 112
4.1 Atmospheres beyond local thermodynamic equilibrium......Page 116
4.2 Expanding atmospheres and the Sobolev method......Page 124
4.3 Properties of gas degeneracy......Page 135
4.4 White dwarfs......Page 140
4.5 Neutron stars......Page 148
Exercises......Page 151
5.1 From special relativity to general relativity......Page 154
5.2 Mathematical toolbox......Page 159
5.3 Einstein's field equations......Page 165
5.4 Solving Einstein's equations......Page 171
5.5 Tests of general relativity......Page 177
5.6 Gravitational waves......Page 188
Exercises......Page 194
6.1 Variational mechanics......Page 198
6.2 The N-body problem......Page 205
6.3 The solar system......Page 210
6.4 The Trapezium system......Page 217
6.5 Chaotic systems......Page 224
Exercises......Page 229
7.1 Charges in cold plasmas......Page 232
7.2 Photons in cold plasmas......Page 237
7.3 Generalized magnetoionic radio wave propagation......Page 245
7.4 Pulsar signals as probes of the interstellar medium......Page 249
7.5 Warm plasmas......Page 256
7.6 Solar wind......Page 265
Exercises......Page 272
8.1 The existence of dark matter......Page 275
8.2 Revisiting the Trapezium cluster......Page 283
8.3 The Hénon–Heiles equations......Page 292
8.4 The central black hole of the Milky Way......Page 293
8.5 Spiral density waves......Page 300
8.6 The interplay of gas and dust......Page 305
8.7 Galactic mergers......Page 316
Exercises......Page 317
9.1 The Hubble law......Page 320
9.2 Quasars and radio galaxies......Page 324
9.3 Synchrotron radiation......Page 332
9.4 Distribution of galaxies......Page 337
9.5 Extragalactic bending of light......Page 343
9.6 The cosmic microwave background......Page 349
9.7 Cosmological models......Page 356
Exercises......Page 364
References......Page 368
Index......Page 380