Stellar Structure and Evolution

By Rudolf Kippenhahn, Alfred Weigert, Achim Weiss, et al.

Book Overview

This long-awaited second edition of the classical textbook on Stellar Structure and Evolution by Kippenhahn and Weigert is a thoroughly revised version of the original text. Taking into account modern observational constraints as well as additional physical effects such as mass loss and diffusion, Achim Weiss and Rudolf Kippenhahn have succeeded in bringing the book up to the state-of-the-art with respect to both the presentation of stellar physics and the presentation and interpretation of current sophisticated stellar models. The well-received and proven pedagogical approach of the first edition has been retained. The book provides a comprehensive treatment of the physics of the stellar interior and the underlying fundamental processes and parameters. The models developed to explain the stability, dynamics and evolution of the stars are presented and great care is taken to detail the various stages in a star's life. Just as the first edition, which remained a standard work for more than 20 years after its first publication, the second edition will be of lasting value not only for students but also for active researchers in astronomy and astrophysics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3642445241
• ISBN13: 9783642445248
• Release Date: November 2014
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 604 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Among astro texts...

This text supports most every assertion with lengthy and invaluable derivations that are useful in ensuring that students understand the material. The topics are covered with exceptional depth, and the explanations are unusually readable. Compared with other astrophysics textbooks marketed to a similar audience, _Stellar Structure and Evolution_ is the sort of resource that will follow me through future courses, and although it was only recommended (rather than required) for my current class, I'm extremely glad I decided to purchase it.

very nice book

very nice book, clear and good written. it permits me to pass the university exam, because the professor use it for his lessons. just to know that it italy this book costs over 150 euro!

A star's lifetime

What happens in the lifetime of a star? This basically is the subject of the book. It describes from basic physical principles where ever possible how a star is formed and how it burns. Kippenhahn shows how inside a star, the gravitational pressure is necessarily balanced by the outgoing radiation and matter pressure. We see the cycle of how a star burns its hydrogen, synthesising helium in the process. Then, how heavier elements are formed. Finally, whether a star novas or not, depending on its mass. The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is shown as a concise way to describe the lifecycle trajectory of a star, over billions of years. Well suited for physics students.