Most stars appear to show some degree of magnetic activity. For example, the varying magnetic field of the Sun shows up in the familiar sun-spot cycle. Radio and X-ray pulsars are enormously dense, rapidly rotating neutron stars which carry steady magnetic fields that are far stronger than the average magnetic field of the Sun. Likewise, many uncollapsed stars behave like rotating permanent magnets. Furthermore, magnetic fields may partly control the formation of new stars as well as the spectacular behaviour observed in galactic nuclei.
Stellar magnetism is therefore a rapidly develoing field of astrophysics, and this book has grown out of the lifelong work of an outstanding researcher in the area. It is an authoritative account with broad astronomical scope, and its thorough, careful, and well-argued approach make it a fine addition to the professional literature. Most of the important topics are treated in mathematical depth with reference given to other relevant literature. Some of the studies, especially those on accretion discs, dynamos, and winds, are applicable to galaxies and galactic nuclei. As well as acting as a professional reference and guide to current thinking, this book will be of interest to graduate students, for whom it shows how the subject has developed and leads on to research problems in the field.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
It was a real pleasure to hold this magnificent tome in my hands for the first time, to savour it and eagerly to read through its pages. Written by a world authority on cosmic magnetism, it is likely to become a classic in its field...This remarkable book is essential reading for all wanting an up-to-date and authoritative account of the key role of magnetic fields in modern astrophysics. * E. R. Priest FRS, Journal of Fluid Mechanics * ...an authoritative resource and reference, a prized possession of any serious researcher in the field. * V. Krishan, Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India * Each part builds to and explores issues previously clearly introduced, so that at the end the big picture of magnetism at work in the Universe (and not just in stars) emerges...There is still an enormous amount to be learned about magnetic fields in the Universe. This book is going to be a classic, and it will be used as an inspiring guide in the search. * P. W. J. L. Brand, European Astronomical Society Newsletter * If you are a graduate student who has become interested in stellar magnetism, you are strongly recommended to read the introduction and then extremely carefully the second chapter in which basic theories are described very precisely and skilfully. * W. Unno, Astronomical Herald, Astronomical Society Japan * The driving force behind the book is the attempt to derive a consistent theoretical picture of how astrophysical objects behave; to be sure, observations are used as a guide, but the overriding concern is that the theory should make sense and be internally consistent...This Eddintonian approach flies in the face of current pressures...it is reassuring to read an author who still believes in theory for its own sake. * D. Galloway, Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics * The main strength of the book is that the author has been able to combine a clear description of the fundamental physical concepts and ideas behind each subject with a thorough mathematical discussion of the theoretical mdoels based on these concepts...What I personally like most about the book is that the author always tries to start from first principles as closely as possible...The author achieves a very good balance between the amount of albebraic detail with which most of the models are treated and the global picture to which the conclusions then contribute. * T. Neukirch, The Observatory *
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Illustrationen
3 halftones, 2pp colour plates and numerous figures
Maße
Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 156 mm
Dicke: 30 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-19-852672-8 (9780198526728)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Professor Leon Mestel, Astronomy Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QJ
Tel: 01273 606755; fax 01273 678097; email: lmestel@star.pact.cpes.susx.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor of Astronomy 1992-
F.R.S. 1977
Eddington Medal, Royal Astronomical Society 1993
Autor*in
Emeritus Professor of AstronomyEmeritus Professor of Astronomy, University of Sussex
1. Introduction ; 2. Theoretical basis ; 3. Applications ; 4. Magnetism and convection ; 5. Magnetic fields in stellar interiors ; 6. Stellar dynamos ; 7. Magnetic braking of stars by winds ; 8. Late-type stars ; 9. The early-type magnetic stars ; 10. Pre-main sequence stars ; 11. Magnetism and star formation I ; 12. Magnetism and star formation II ; 13. Pulsar electrodynamics I ; 14. Pulsar electrodynamics II ; Index