Astrophysics of the interstellar medium / / Walter J. Maciel ; translated by Margarida Serote Roos

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910437981703321
• Autore: Maciel W. J (Walter Junqueira)
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: New York, NY, : Springer, c2013
• ISBN: 1-299-19717-5; 1-4614-3767-9
• Edizione: [1st ed. 2013.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (268 p.)
• Disciplina: 523.1/135; 523.1135
• Soggetti: Interstellar matter; Astrophysics
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Astrophysics of the Interstellar Medium; Preface; About the Author; Contents; Chapter 1: General Overview of the Interstellar Medium; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Density of the Interstellar Medium; 1.3 The Interstellar Zoo; 1.4 Historical Sketch; 1.4.1 Bright Nebulae; 1.4.2 Dark Nebulae; 1.4.3 Diffuse Interstellar Gas; 1.5 The Oort Limit; Exercises; Bibliography; Chapter 2: The Interstellar Radiation Field; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Radio-Frequency Integrated Radiation; 2.2.1 Bremsstrahlung Radiation; 2.2.2 Synchrotron Radiation (Magnetobremsstrahlung); 2.2.3 Line Radiation; 2.3 Cosmic Background Radiation2.4 Integrated Radiation Field; 2.5 Radiative Transfer; 2.5.1 Radiative Transfer Equation; 2.5.2 Transfer Equation Solution; 2.5.3 Numerical Example: Energy Density; 2.6 High-Energy Radiation; Exercises; Bibliography; Chapter 3: Spectral Line Formation; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Thermodynamic Equilibrium Equations; 3.2.1 Maxwellian Velocity Distribution Function; 3.2.2 Boltzmann Equation; 3.2.3 Saha Equation; 3.2.4 The Planck Function; 3.3 Radiative Transfer; 3.4 Einstein Coefficients; 3.4.1 Emission Coefficient; 3.4.2 Absorption Coefficient; 3.4.3 Relations Between the Einstein Coefficients3.5 Spectral Line Profile; 3.5.1 Absorption Line Profile; 3.5.2 Doppler Profile; 3.5.3 Lorentz Profile; 3.5.4 Voigt Profile; 3.5.5 Integrated Absorption Cross ; Section; 3.5.6 Relations Between the Einstein Coefficients and the Oscillator Strength; 3.5.7 Induced Emissions; 3.6 The Source Function; Exercises; Bibliography; Chapter 4: Interstellar Emission and Absorption Lines; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Optical Recombination Lines; 4.2.1 Recombination Coefficient; 4.2.2 Recombination Line Analysis; 4.2.3 Results; 4.3 The H 21cm Emission Line; 4.3.1 Introduction4.3.2 Brightness Temperature; 4.3.3 H Column Density Calculation; 4.3.4 Results; 4.4 The H 21cm Absorption Line; 4.4.1 Observations; 4.4.2 Results; 4.5 Broad Absorption Lines; 4.5.1 Broad Absorption Lines Intensity: H and H2; 4.5.2 Example: Interstellar Lyman-α Line; 4.5.3 Results; 4.5.4 Lines of Highly Ionized Elements; 4.6 Curve of Growth; 4.7 Narrow Absorption Lines; 4.7.1 Introduction; 4.7.2 Problems in the Analysis of the Curves of Growth; 4.7.3 Empirical Curve of growth; 4.7.4 Interstellar Abundances; Exercises; Bibliography; Chapter 5: Excitation in the Interstellar Medium5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Statistical Equilibrium; 5.3 Collisional Excitation; 5.4 Collisional/Radiative Excitation; 5.4.1 The Statistical Equilibrium Equation; 5.4.2 Relation Between Rates gammajk and gammakj; 5.4.3 Collisional Excitation Rate; 5.4.4 Relations Between Cross Sections; 5.4.5 Cross Section and Collision Strength; 5.4.6 Relation Between Coefficients gammakj and Omega(j,k); 5.4.7 Example: O II and O III in Photoionized Nebulae; 5.4.8 Example: H Collisional Excitation in H I Regions; 5.4.9 Other Processes; 5.5 Two-Level Atoms; 5.5.1 Deviation Coefficients
• Sommario/riassunto: The space between the stars includes a large variety of objects, where physical processes occur that are fundamental for the structure and evolution of galaxies. This book gives the reader some basic knowledge of these processes and at the same time, presents estimates of the main quantities relevant to the study of the interstellar medium. The book could be used as an introductory course on the interstellar medium by science students or by readers interested in astrophysics with an adequate physics and mathematics background.