Supernovae and Nucleosynthesis (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)

Book Description

This book investigates the question of how matter has evolved since its origin in the Big Bang, from the cosmological synthesis of hydrogen and helium to the generation of the complex set of nuclei that comprise our world and our selves. A central theme is the evolution of gravitationally contained thermonuclear reactors, otherwise known as stars. Our current understanding is presented systematically and quantitatively, by combining simple analytic models with new state-of-the-art computer simulations.

The narrative begins with the clues (primarily the solar system abundance pattern), the constraining physics (primarily nuclear and particle physics), and the thermonuclear burning in the Big Bang itself. It continues with a step-by-step description of how stars evolve by nuclear reactions, a critical investigation of supernova explosion mechanisms and the formation of neutron stars and of black holes, and an analysis of how such explosions appear to astronomers (illustrated by comparison with recent observations). It concludes with a synthesis of these ideas for galactic evolution, with implications for nucleosynthesis in the first generation of stars and for the solar system abundance pattern. Emphasis is given to questions that remain open, and to active research areas that bridge the disciplines of astronomy, cosmochemistry, physics, and planetary and space science. Extensive references are given.

Customer Reviews:

A must for graduate students.......2000-06-11

"Supernovae and Nucleosynthesis" is not a textbook, but it is extremely useful for astronomy students, especially in stellar and chemical evolution. There are lots of formulae, tables and figures, helping to understand the basics of synthesis and evolution of nuclei in our Cosmos. The thermonuclear reactions are well-explained, but less emphasis was taken in chemical evolution (especially in the observational part). In some parts is similar to the classic stellar evolution textbook by Clayton, but with update material. This book is a must for any astronomy library, serious students and professional astronomers.

Historical Supernovae and Their Remnants (International Series on Astronomy and Astrophysics, 5)

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Historical Supernovae and Their Remnants (International Series on Astronomy and Astrophysics, 5)
F. Richard Stephenson , and David A. Green
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0198507666

Book Description

This book reviews both the historical observations of supernovae (SN) seen in our Galaxy over the last two millennia and recorded in East Asia (China, Japan and Korea), Europe and the Arabic dominions, together with modern observations of the remnants of these supernovae. Introductory chapters provide background information about the historical observations and our modern understanding of supernovae and novae, and of supernova remnants (SNRs) and pulsars. Subsequent chapters discuss the historical observations of the well defined historical SN and modern observations of their remnants. These chapters cover Kepler's SN of AD1604, Tycho's SNe of AD1572, the SN of AD1181, the SN of AD1054 which produced the well known Crab Nebula, and the especially bright SN of AD1006. One chapter discusses the young SNR Cassiopeia A, and the proposed sighting of its SN in AD1680 by Flamsteed. Earlier but less certain supernovae of the preceding millennium chronicled in China are also discussed, along with their possible remnants. Other less certain observations of historical SN, and the future potential for additional historical observations, are briefly discussed. This book also includes as an appendix an up-to-date catalogue of over two hundred known Galactic SNRs.

Observing Variable Stars, Novae, and Supernovae

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Excellent Primer on Variable Stars
Excellent Scientific Background Information
A Good Place for Amateurs to Consentrate

Observing Variable Stars, Novae, and Supernovae
Gerald North , and Nick James
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Practical Guide to Lightcurve Photometry and Analysis (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
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ASIN: 0521820472

Book Description

Gerald North's complete practical guide and resource package instructs amateur astronomers in observing and monitoring variable stars and other objects of variable brightness. Descriptions of the objects are accompanied by explanations of the background astrophysics, providing readers with real insight into what they are observing at the telescope. The main instrumental requirements for observing and estimating the brightness of objects by visual means and by CCD photometry are detailed, and there is advice on the selection of equipment. The book contains a CD-ROM packed with resources, including hundreds of light-curves and over 600 printable finder charts. Containing extensive practical advice, this comprehensive guide is an invaluable resource for amateur astronomers of all levels, from novices to more advanced observers. Gerald North is a lifelong amateur astronomer. In addition to being a member of the British Astronomical Association since 1977, he is also the author of many books, including Advanced Amateur Astronomy (Cambridge, 1997) and Observing the Moon (Cambridge, 2000).

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Primer on Variable Stars.......2006-03-25

I first heard about this book from a good review article in Sky and Telescope magazine and thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall, this book succeeds as a primer on Variable Star observing. And, for variable star observers, this is definitely a must-have book.

Although the beginning of the book provides in-depth information on how to do variable star observing, the real strength of this book comes later when the authors explain what is going on inside the stars which cause the observed variability. Again, the authors are very thorough in providing explanations for all of the different types of variable stars. The book also comes with an easy to use CD containing star charts and variable light curves which supplement the book very well.

Excellent Scientific Background Information.......2005-10-22

As an avid variable star observer myself, I found this book to be of great value. The first half of the book describes the process of observation in some detail. This detail includes a good deal of information about how the process should be done using CCD technology which I found quite interesting in it's own right as I am a visual observer and have not done any CCD observations yet. I do note the one weakness in the book is that the author brushes off the use of photometers in recording this data even though the AAVSO (the world's leading organization in variable star research) has a very lively group of photometric enthusiasts.

The real strength of the book in my opinion is in the second half. North goes into good detail discussing the science behind each of the various types of variables and why we believe they act as they do. This is information that I have found difficult to come by. It is especially useful, as it is quite readable and easy to reference.

All in all I recommend this book highly to anyone doing variable star observing, and I also recommend it in general to any amateur astronomer or arm chair scientist as a good source of information about a branch of science where it is the amateur who contributes the overwhelming amount of data to the field of study.

A Good Place for Amateurs to Consentrate.......2005-02-04

When I saw the title of this book I wondered why something like this would have any appeal to the amateur. The author immediately made this clear, these things have gotten boring to the professional so it is an area where the amateur can still do significant work.

After this, Mr. North spends the rest of the book on equipment, observing, and reporting your results. It's interesting that for this kind of work you don't need the biggest possible scope, in fact he says that you may have to stop down a larger scope to keep from overloading the image.

This book clearly lays out an observation program that just might appeal to a wide range of amateur observers. Within its area, it speaks with authority.

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Dauber is the Man
saf
Book Bad - Me no like.
i hated this book no action
Excellent popular science about evolution of the universe.

The Three Big Bangs (Helix Books)
Philip M. Dauber , and Richard A. Muller
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

The universe was created in the first Big Bang, but according to Philip Dauber and Richard Muller that alone couldn't have been sufficient to set the stage for life on Earth today. Two more big bangs were needed: one in the form of a supernova that seeded the solar system with heavy elements; the second a devastating asteroid or comet impact 65 million years ago that exterminated the dinosaurs and permitted the evolution of mammals and ultimately humans. The Three Big Bangs describes the science behind each of these events in a colorful manner. It provides an easily accessible survey of key theories in cosmology, but readers more familiar with these principles may yearn for greater detail and rigor. Still, as an overview of three classes of cosmological cataclysms and their role in shaping the world as we know it, The Three Big Bangs succeeds.

Customer Reviews:

Dauber is the Man.......2006-04-05

Haven't read the book, but Dauber was my high school physics teacher and he is the man. Dude has a boat

saf.......2004-05-30

okay...i admit it, i thought he would be nice...but that has changed. i don't like him anymore, he is too stuffy. he is still brilliant, tho.

Book Bad - Me no like........2002-02-07

Boring, not good. What's the deal with his hair?

i hated this book no action.......1999-04-01

there should of been more storie

Excellent popular science about evolution of the universe........1996-12-19

The authors' three big bangs are 1) THE Big Bang thought to have given birth to the known universe, 2) the later explosions of supernovas which produced the heavy elements not originally present in the early universe, which was dominated by the light elements hydrogen and helium, and 3) the crash of a comet or asteroid near the Yucatan peninsula 65 million years ago, which destroyed the dinosaurs and gave fresh opportunities to mammals and, eventually, to us humans. For the authors, these diverse events are linked because they have each played an enormous role in determining the nature of the world we now live in. These three big bangs give us a strong sense of physical evolution, comparable to the modern view of biological evolution. This is a new perception. When I was a child in the 1940's I read everything about popular astronomy I could get my hands on. The view I got at the time was of a completely static universe, in which nothing much ever happened. The universe was magnificent and awesome but certainly not dynamic. Now the universe is a place of explosive evolution and is vastly more magnificent and awesome. "The Three Big Bangs" tells this story well. This is a book that openly panders to our fascination with violence, but in a way that is socially acceptable!

Supernovae: and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

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Supernovae: and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)
Martin Mobberley
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Celestial Mechanics: The Waltz of the Planets (Springer Praxis Books / Popular Astronomy)
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ASIN: 0387352570

Book Description

This book is intended for amateur astronomers who are readers of Sky and Telescope magazine or similar astronomy periodicals – or are at least at the same level of knowledge and enthusiasm.

Supernovae, the subject of this book, represent the most violent stellar explosions in the universe. It is a unique guide to supernova facts, and it is also an observing/discovery guide, all in one package. Supernovae are often discovered by amateur astronomers, and Martin Mobberley describes the best strategies for discovering and observing them. Moreover, Supernovae and How to Observe Them contains detailed information about the probable physics of supernovae, a subject which even today is imperfectly understood.

Here is a book that is essential reading for any amateur astronomer who is interested in discovering, observing, or learning about supernovae.

Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursters (Lecture Notes in Physics)

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Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursters (Lecture Notes in Physics)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Cosmic Catastrophes: Exploding Stars, Black Holes, and Mapping the Universe

ASIN: 3540440534

Book Description

Written by an international team of experts, this set of tutorial reviews provides a coherent and accessible summary of the current state of supernova research in all of its facets. The newly detected gamma-ray bursts are discussed in this context. While primarily addressing astrophysicists and astronomers, this book will also be of interest to cosmologists and nuclear physicists working on supernova-related issues.

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A good overview about Supernovae, though its from 1988
A Blast!

The Supernova Story
Laurence Marschall
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cosmic Catastrophes: Exploding Stars, Black Holes, and Mapping the Universe
The Restless Universe: Understanding X-Ray Astronomy in the Age of Chandra and Newton
The Biggest Bangs: The Mystery of Gamma-Ray Bursts, the Most Violent Explosions in the Universe
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ASIN: 0691036330

Book Description

Astronomers believe that a supernova is a massive explosion signaling the death of a star, causing a cosmic recycling of the chemical elements and leaving behind a pulsar, black hole, or nothing at all. In an engaging story of the life cycles of stars, Laurence Marschall tells how early astronomers identified supernovae, and how later scientists came to their current understanding, piecing together observations and historical accounts to form a theory, which was tested by intensive study of SN 1987A, the brightest supernova since 1006. He has revised and updated The Supernova Story to include all the latest developments concerning SN 1987A, which astronomers still watch for possible aftershocks, as well as SN 1993J, the spectacular new event in the cosmic laboratory.

Customer Reviews:

A good overview about Supernovae, though its from 1988.......1998-04-19

This book brings a good overview to the reader, how Supernovae brings their information to our planet and how they develop with all the basics of astrophysics an cosmology needed to understand. It was published first in 1988 but a 2. series came out in 1994. So you can't find the newest informations on Supernovae.

A Blast!.......1997-12-31

Found the book to be inspirational to my own writing. A good introduction to the lay person, and with healthy detail for the versed.

Supernovae As Distance Indicators (Lecture Notes in Physics)

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Supernovae As Distance Indicators (Lecture Notes in Physics)
N. Bartel
Manufacturer: Springer-Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0387152067

Cosmic Catastrophes: Supernovae, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Adventures in Hyperspace

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Excellent book
Cosmic catastrophies by J. Craig Wheeler
How stars work
The biggest explosions

Cosmic Catastrophes: Supernovae, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Adventures in Hyperspace
J. Craig Wheeler
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521651956

Book Description

In this tour de force of the ultimate and extreme in astrophysics, renowned astrophysicist and author J. Craig Wheeler takes us on a breathtaking journey to supernovae, black holes, gamma-ray bursts and adventures in hyperspace. This is no far-fetched science fiction tale, but an enthusiastic exploration of ideas at the cutting edge of current astrophysics. Wheeler follows the tortuous life of a star from birth to evolution and death, and goes on to consider the complete collapse of a star into a black hole, worm-hole time machines, the possible birth of baby bubble universes, and the prospect of a revolutionary view of space and time in a ten-dimensional string theory. Along the way he offers evidence that suggests the Universe is accelerating and describes recent developments in understanding gamma-ray bursts--perhaps the most catastrophic cosmic events of all. With the use of lucid analogies, simple language and crystal-clear cartoons, Cosmic Catastrophes makes accessible some of the most exciting and mind-bending objects and ideas in the Universe. J. Craig Wheeler is currently Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin and Vice President of the American Astronomical Society as of 1999.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-07-22

This book probably has some of the best descriptions for novae and supernovae, that I have seen, for non-scientists.

Cosmic catastrophies by J. Craig Wheeler.......2005-08-28

Highly recommended for the cosmically curious who does not have the mathmatical background. It is easy to understand and well written.

How stars work.......2001-02-26

I found this book a complete surprise. From the title, I expected only a story about explosions and collisions but this book is much, much more. It provides really brilliant descriptions of how all kinds of stars evolve and how they regulate their energy production. After reading this book I fully understood why aging stars produce more energy but are cooler than they were in their youth. A minor complaint might be that the content is not well organized. A type 1A supernova is explained here and a type 2 there and later some more about 1A etc. But, I shouldn't dwell on a quibble. This is a terrific book. After reading it I'll never think of iron or nickel in quite the same way again.

The biggest explosions.......2000-10-06

There seems to be an aspect of human nature that wants to search out and discover things that are the most extreme in their class. People just seem to love record setters. This is a book about cosmic record setters. Within its pages Wheeler describes the biggest, most energetic, oldest, densest, things in the universe. If cosmic record holders hold any interest for you, then I think you'll find this book as enjoyable as I did.

Wheeler begins his book by describing how stars form, how they evolve in response to gravity, how they ignite, how they burn, and eventually how they die. This is a logical introduction, since virtually all the examples of cosmic catastrophes involve stars in one form or another. Like people, though, the life of each star is unique - and the end times are very different. Wheeler does an excellent job of describing the negative feedback process that stabilizes solar activity. If the star generates too much heat it expands. This expansion reduces the temperature, and throttles back on the rate of nuclear fusion. If the star cools down it contracts, and the contraction heats it up again, keeping the rate of fusion at a remarkably constant level for long periods of time during the stars life.

Much of Wheeler's text is actually about how stars evolve. This is important because to understand their deaths, you need to understand how they are born and how they evolve over their lifetimes. Their deaths are frequently the most interesting parts of the story because they are often involved with the catastrophes that are the book's principal thesis. While I bought the book because of its discussion about cosmic catastrophes, I found it valuable for its descriptions of stellar evolution alone. This includes a nice description of the "solar-neutrino" problem as well as a nice explanation of the red-giant phase, and especially the last stages during the life of a massive star that explodes in a super nova.

The foundational understanding of the basics of stellar evolution makes it easier to follower Wheeler as he takes the reader on a tour of the major players in cosmic catastrophes: white dwarfs, super novae (of many different types), neutron stars, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts. Wheeler's descriptions of these phenomena (to the extent that modern science understands them) are among the best I've seen in a popular science textbook. There is also a smattering of discussion about the origin of the universe in the Big Bang, and some interesting speculation about time (and space) travel using black holes.

In any book dealing with modern cosmology and astronomy there are inevitable discussions about the nature of space and time and how they fit together with Einstein's theory of general relativity. Most such books have at least one figure showing a funnel-shaped construct with grid lines converging as they swoop into the tapering end where the black hole resides. Wheeler uses lots of such diagrams. However, I think he does a better job than most at helping the reader understand what the diagrams illustrate. More importantly, he helps the reader understand what the diagrams do not illustrate, and their limitations (he dispels some common misperceptions about these sorts of figures). I especially enjoyed Wheeler's explanations about how one might (with the application of the appropriate mental acrobatics) use the diagrams to actually envision what is really going on in our multi-dimensional world.

Another thing I liked about Wheeler's book is the clear and frequent illustrations. For the most part the author has anticipated those places where prose just cannot quite complete the mental picture. When this happens there is inevitably a well-constructed diagram that finishes the concept and makes things clear. There was one exception, however. Figure 7.3 really needs to have an arrow or circle marking the location of SN 1987A. [I'm pretty sure I found it, but the exposure changes between the photographs, and so I'm not quite sure. It would have been nice to have the author's help in preventing a false identification.]

Reading this book one gets the sense that even though it is a qualitative description of astronomy (there are no equations) Wheeler is not over simplifying. His discussion of super novae, for example, lists many classes and describes theoretical uncertainties that other authors gloss over or ignore all together. Of course there is much more detail to super novae than what is in Wheeler's book. But at the qualitative level Wheeler leaves the reader understanding that there are many classifications of super novae, that some of the boundaries between classifications are not always so clear cut, and that we still don't know a lot about how some types form, and how other types explode. These are concepts that other popular science textbooks don't always convey. I think the only thing missing from the chapters on super novae is a table that summarizes all the different types and some of their descriptive identifiers.

Unlike some popular science texts, Wheeler devotes quite a bit of time describing the evolution of binary stars, which play an important role in some of the greatest cosmic catastrophes. I think he does an especially good job of qualitatively describing accretion disks, and how they fit in the context of mass transfer in binary systems. It's this mass transfer that is ultimately involved in some of the most spectacular catastrophes in the sky.

Book Description

Transient phenomena are short-lived astronomical events, unusual in a science in which time is more often measured in millennia than milliseconds. There is a fascination with transient phenomena, predictable or otherwise, that astronomers of all abilities share. In Meteors, Comets, Supernovae, Neil Bone gives guidelines for observers, including the best possible periods (months or years) to see seasonal but unpredictable phenomena like meteors and sunspots. Recording such outbursts involves visual observing techniques, photography, and even the relatively new field of the video recording of meteors, which are also examined in detail. The book also includes material about phenomena that occur in the lower atmosphere (such as "ozone eaters", nacreous clouds, solar and lunar haloes), which although not strictly astronomical in their nature attract the attention of dedicated sky-watchers.

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