Theoretical Astrophysics. Volume 2, Stars And Stellar Systems

The study of stellar physics plays a central role in the broader study of astrophysics. This authoritative textbook, which is the second volume of a comprehensive three-volume course on theoretical astrophysics, tackles stars and stellar systems. Designed to help graduate students and researchers develop an understanding of the key physical processes governing stars and stellar systems, it teaches the fundamentals, and then builds on them to give the reader an in-depth understanding of advanced topics. The book's modular design allows the chapters to be approached individually, yet the transitions are seamless, creating a coherent and connected whole. It can be used alone or in conjunction with Volume I, which covers a wide range of astrophysical processes, and the forthcoming Volume III, on galaxies and cosmology. After reviewing the key observational results and nomenclature used in stellar astronomy, the book develops a solid understanding of central concepts including stellar structure and evolution, the physics of stellar remnants such as white dwarfs and blackholes, pulsars, binary stars, the sun and planetary systems, interstellar medium and globular clusters. Throughout, the reader's grasp of all of the topics is developed and tested with more than seventy-five exercises. This indispensible volume provides graduate students with a self-contained introduction to stellar physics, and will allow them to master the material sufficiently to read and engage in research with heightened understanding.