An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics (eBook)

Francis LeBlanc is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Université de Moncton (Canada). He was educated at the Université de Moncton and then went on to obtain a Masters degree and a PhD from the Université de Montréal (Canada). During these graduate studies, he was awarded prestigious graduate studies scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), as well as other scholarships. In 1994, he was hired as assistant professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Université de Moncton, then promoted to associate professor and finally was promoted to full professor in January 2008. Professor LeBlanc has been an active researcher and has obtained research grants from the NSERC. His fields of expertise are diffusion in stars, chemically peculiar stars and stellar atmospheres. Professor LeBlanc is responsible for the university's observatory, has taught several undergraduate courses on general astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences, modern physics and introduction to nuclear physics and a graduate course on stellar astrophysics.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Chapter 1: Basics Concepts.

1.1 Introduction.

1.2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum.

1.3 Blackbody Radiation.

1.4 Luminosity, Effective Temperature, Flux and Magnitudes.

1.5 Boltzmann and Saha Equations.

1.6 Spectral Classification of Stars.

1.7 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.

Chapter 2: Stellar Formation.

2.1 Introduction.

2.2 Hydrostatic Equilibrium.

2.3 The Virial Theorem.

2.4 The Jeans Criteria.

2.5 Free-Fall Times¯i .

2.6 Pre-Main-Sequence Evolution¯i .

Chapter 3: Radiative Transfer in Stars.

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Radiative Opacities.

3.3 Specific Intensity and Radiative Moments.

3.4 Radiative Transfer Equation.

3.5 Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium.

3.6 Solution of the Radiative Transfer Equation.

3.7 Radiative Equilibrium.

3.8 Radiative Transfer at Large Optical Depths.

3.9 Rosseland and Other Mean Opacities.

3.10 Schwarzschild-Milne Equations¯ii
.

3.11 Demonstration of the Radiative Transfer
Equation¯i .

3.12 Radiative Acceleration of Matter And Radiative
Pressure¯i .

Chapter 4: Stellar Atmospheres.

4.1 Introduction.

4.2 The Grey Atmosphere.

4.3 Line Opacities and Broadening.

4.4 Equivalent Width and Formation Of Atomic Lines.

4.5 Atmospheric Modelling.

Chapter 5: Stellar Interiors.

5.1 Introduction.

5.2 Equations of Stellar Structure.

5.3 Energy Transport in Stars.

5.4 Polytropic Models.

5.5 Structure of The Sun.

5.6 Equation of State.

5.7 Variable Stars and Asteroseismology.

Chapter 6: Nucleosynthesis and Stellar Evolution.

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Generalities Concerning Nuclear Fusion.

6.3 Models of the Nucleus¯i .

6.4 Basic Physics of Nuclear Fusion.

6.5 Main-Sequence Burning.

6.6 Helium Burning Phase.

6.7 Advanced Nuclear Burning.

6.8 Evolutionary Tracks in the H.-R. Diagram.

6.9 Stellar Clusters.

6.10 Stellar Remnants.

6.11 Novae and Supernovae¯i .

6.12 Heavy Element Nucleosynthesis: s, r and p
Processes¯i .

6.13 Nuclear Reaction Cross-Sections and
Rates¯ii .

Chapter 7: Chemically Peculiar Stars and
Diffusioni.

7.1 Introduction and Historical Background.

7.2 Chemically Peculiar Stars.

7.3 Diffusion Theory¯ii .

7.4 Radiative Accelerations¯ii .

7.5 Other Transport Processes¯ii .

Answers to Selected Exercises.

Appendix A: Physical Constants.

Appendix B: Units in the cgs. and SI Systems.

Appendix C: Astronomical Constants.

Appendix D: Ionization Energies (in eV) for the First Five
Stages of Ionization for the Most Important Elements.

Appendix E: Solar Abundances for the Most Important
Elements.

Appendix F: Atomic Masses.

Appendix G: Physical Parameters for Main-Sequence Stars.

Appendix H: Periodic Table of the Elements.

References.

Bibliography.

Index.

"An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics is a welcome addition to existing books on this subject . . .Overall, a very good book. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers/faculty. " (Choice, 1July 2011)