Synopses & Reviews
Describing interstellar matter in our galaxy in all of its various forms, this book also considers the physical and chemical processes that are occurring within this matter. The first seven chapters present the various components making up the interstellar matter and detail the ways that we are able to study them. The following seven chapters are devoted to the physical, chemical and dynamical processes that control the behaviour of interstellar matter. These include the instabilities and cloud collapse processes that lead to the formation of stars. The last chapter summarizes the transformations that can occur between the different phases of the interstellar medium. Emphasizing methods over results, "The Interstellar Medium" is written for graduate students, for young astronomers, and also for any researchers who have developed an interest in the interstellar medium.
Synopsis
The interstellar medium is the material that fills the space between the stars. Many people imagine outer space to be a complete vacuum, devoid of any material. Although the interstellar regions are more devoid of matter than any vacuum artificially created on earth, there is matter in space. Interstellar medium such as dust, molecular gas, neutral atomic hydrogen, ionized hydrogen, and other hot gases is the basis for star formation. This book describes interstellar matter in our galaxy in all of its various forms, it also considers the physical and chemical processes that are occurring within this matter.
Table of Contents
Our Galaxy, Host of the Interstellar Medium.- Radiations and Magnetic Fields.- Radiative Transfer and Excitation.- The Neutral Interstellar Gas.- The Ionized Interstellar Gas.- The Interstellar Medium at High Energies.- Interstellar Dust.- Heating and Cooling of the Interstellar Gas.- Interstellar Chemistry.- Photodissociation Regions.- Shocks.- Shock Applications.- Interstellar Turbulence.- Equilibrium, Collapse and Star Formation.- Changes of State and Transformation.