Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium / / Bruce T. Draine.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Princeton University Press eBook-Package Backlist 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: Draine, Bruce T.,
• Place / Publishing House: Princeton, NJ : : Princeton University Press, , [2010]; ©2011
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Language: English
• Series: Princeton Series in Astrophysics ; 19
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (560 p.) :; 23 color illus. 158 line illus.50 tables.

This is a comprehensive and richly illustrated textbook on the astrophysics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium--the gas and dust, as well as the electromagnetic radiation, cosmic rays, and magnetic and gravitational fields, present between the stars in a galaxy and also between galaxies themselves. Topics include radiative processes across the electromagnetic spectrum; radiative transfer; ionization; heating and cooling; astrochemistry; interstellar dust; fluid dynamics, including ionization fronts and shock waves; cosmic rays; distribution and evolution of the interstellar medium; and star formation. While it is assumed that the reader has a background in undergraduate-level physics, including some prior exposure to atomic and molecular physics, statistical mechanics, and electromagnetism, the first six chapters of the book include a review of the basic physics that is used in later chapters. This graduate-level textbook includes references for further reading, and serves as an invaluable resource for working astrophysicists. Essential textbook on the physics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium Based on a course taught by the author for more than twenty years at Princeton University Covers radiative processes, fluid dynamics, cosmic rays, astrochemistry, interstellar dust, and more Discusses the physical state and distribution of the ionized, atomic, and molecular phases of the interstellar medium Reviews diagnostics using emission and absorption lines Features color illustrations and detailed reference materials in appendices Instructor's manual with problems and solutions (available only to teachers)

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Collisional Processes -- 3. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamic Equilibrium -- 4. Energy Levels of Atoms and Ions -- 5. Energy Levels of Molecules -- 6. Spontaneous Emission, Stimulated Emission, and Absorption -- 7. Radiative Transfer -- 8. HI 21-cm Emission and Absorption -- 9. Absorption Lines: The Curve of Growth -- 10. Emission and Absorption by a Thermal Plasma -- 11. Propagation of Radio Waves through the ISM -- 12. Interstellar Radiation Fields -- 13. Ionization Processes -- 14. Recombination of Ions with Electrons -- 15. Photoionized Gas -- 16. Ionization in Predominantly Neutral Regions -- 17. Collisional Excitation -- 18. Nebular Diagnostics -- 19. Radiative Trapping -- 20. Optical Pumping -- 21. Interstellar Dust: Observed Properties -- 22. Scattering and Absorption by Small Particles -- 23. Composition of Interstellar Dust -- 24. Temperatures of Interstellar Grains -- 25. Grain Physics: Charging and Sputtering -- 26. Grain Dynamics -- 27. Heating and Cooling of H II Regions -- 28. The Orion H II Region -- 29. HI Clouds: Observations -- 30. H I Clouds: Heating and Cooling -- 31. Molecular Hydrogen -- 32. Molecular Clouds: Observations -- 33. Molecular Clouds: Chemistry and Ionization -- 34. Physical Processes in Hot Gas -- 35. Fluid Dynamics -- 36. Shock Waves -- 37. Ionization/Dissociation Fronts -- 38. Stellar Winds -- 39. Effects of Supernovae on the ISM -- 40. Cosmic Rays and Gamma Rays -- 41. Gravitational Collapse and Star Formation: Theory -- 42. Star Formation: Observations -- A. List of Symbols -- B. Physical Constants -- C. Summary of Radiative Processes -- D. Ionization Potentials (eV) -- E. Energy-Level Diagrams -- F. Collisional Rate Coefficients -- G. Semiclassical Atom -- H. Debye Length for a Plasma -- I. Heuristic Model for Ion-Electron Inelastic Scattering -- J. Virial Theorem -- Bibliography -- Index