Supernovae and Nucleosynthesis: An Investigation of the History of Matter, from the Big Bang to the Present

by David Arnett

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691011479
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	03/24/1996
Series:	Princeton Series in Astrophysics , #7
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

David Arnett is a Regents Professor at the University of Arizona and an astrophysicist at the Steward Observatory. He has been an active contributor to the development of a quantitative understanding of the birth of the elements and the death of stars, with particular interests in the use of computers in science, and in the interface between physics and astronomy.

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Preface

1 Introduction

2 Abundances of Nuclei

3 Some Aspects of Nuclear Physics

4 Nuclear Reaction Networks

5 Cosmological Nucleosynthesis

6 Some Properties of Stars

7 Hydrogen-Burning Stars

8 Helium-Burning Stars

9 Explosive Nucleosynthesis

10 Neutrino-Cooled Stars

11 Thermonuclear Explosions

12 Gravitational Collapse

13 Supernovae

14 Galactic Evolution

App. A Solar System Abundances

App. B Equations of State

App. C Stellar Structure

App. D Supernova Light Curves

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

"The book is delightful reading. . . the best available source of material on supernova physics for the graduate student."—-A.G.W. Cameron, Nature

From the Publisher

"This well-illustrated and well-referenced volume is an extremely valuable addition to the astronomical literature."

New Scientist

The book is delightful reading. . . the best available source of material on supernova physics for the graduate student.

Nature - A.G.W. Cameron

The book is delightful reading. . . the best available source of material on supernova physics for the graduate student.
— A.G.W. Cameron

Nature

"This well-illustrated and well-referenced volume is an extremely valuable addition to the astronomical literature."

New Scientist