Dynamics of Galaxies

ISBN-13: 9781107000544 / Angielski / Twarda / 2014 / 484 str.

Giuseppe Bertin

Opis

Our understanding of galaxies, the building blocks of the Universe has advanced significantly in recent years. New observations from ground- and space-based telescopes, the discovery of dark matter, and new insights into its distribution have been instrumental in this. This textbook provides graduate students with a modern introduction to the gravitationally-determined structure and evolution of galaxies. Readers will also benefit from detailed discussions of the issues involved in the process of modeling complex stellar systems. Additionally, the text provides an accessible framework for interpreting observations and devising new observational tests. Based on the author's extensive teaching experience, this Second Edition features an up to date view of basic phenomenology, a discussion of the structure of dark halos in galaxies, the dynamics of quasi-relaxed stellar systems and globular clusters, galaxies and gravitational lensing and an introduction to self-gravitating accretion disks. Extended problem sets are available from the accompanying resources website: www.cambridge.org/9781107000544.

Recenzje

'This book presents a good introduction to many advanced topics in the area of galactic structure and evolution usually not covered in more introductory texts. The approach is original, particularly by presenting many interesting parallels and analogies with other areas of physics. To sum up: a very useful book for studying this subject at graduate level.' Ilian Iliev, University of Sussex

Spis treści

Preface to the first edition; Preface to the second edition; Acknowledgments; Part I. Basic Phenomenology: 1. Scales; 2. Observational windows; 3. Classifications; 4. Photometry, kinematics and dark matter; 5. Basic questions, semi-empirical approach and the dynamical window; Part II. Physical Models: 6. Self-gravity and relation to plasma physics; 7. Relaxation times, absence of thermodynamical equilibrium; 8. Models; 9. Equilibrium and stability: symmetry; 10. Classical ellipsoids; 11. Introduction to dispersive waves; 12. Jeans instability; Part III. Spiral Galaxies: 13. Orbits; 14. The basic state: vertical and horizontal equilibrium of the disk; 15. Density waves; 16. Roles of gas; 17. Global spiral modes; 18. Spiral structure in galaxies; 19. Bending waves; 20. Dark matter in spiral galaxies; Part IV. Elliptical Galaxies: 21. Orbits; 22. Stellar dynamical models; 23. Stability; 24. Dark matter in elliptical galaxies; Part V. In Perspective: 25. Selected aspects of formation and evolution; 26. Galaxies and gravitational lensing; 27. Self-gravitating accretion disks; Bibliography; Index.