Overview

Streamlining the extensive information from the original, highly acclaimed monograph, this new An Introduction to the Physics of Interstellar Dust provides a concise reference and overview of interstellar dust and the interstellar medium. Drawn from a graduate course taught by the author, a highly regarded figure in the field, this all-in-one book emphasizes astronomical formulae and astronomical problems to give a solid foundation for the further study of interstellar medium. Covering all phenomena associated with cosmic dust, this inclusive text eliminates the need to consult special physical literature by providing a comprehensive introduction in one source. The book addresses the absorption and scattering of dust, its creation in old stars, as well as emission, cohesion, and electrical charge. With strong attention to detail, the author facilitates a complete understanding from which to build a more versatile application and manipulation of the information. Providing insightful explanations for the utilization of many formulae, the author instructs in the effective investigation of astronomical objects for determining basic parameters. The book offers numerous figures displaying basic properties of dust such as optical constants, specific heat, and absorption and scattering coefficients making it accessible for the reader to apply these numbers to the problem at hand. There is an extensive section and comprehensive introduction to radiative transfer in a dusty medium with many practical pieces of advice and ample illustrations to guide astronomers wishing to implement radiative transfer code themselves. An unparalleled amount of astronomical information in an accessible and palatable resource, An Introduction to the Physics of Interstellar Dust provides the most complete foundational reference available on the subject.

Full Product Details

9780367388867

Table of Contents

Reviews

On the whole the book is excellent in its content as well as its presentation. It contains a wealth of valuable information relating to the physics of interstellar grains, essentially updating and replacing the existing textbooks on this subject. It exhaustively covers the theory of light scattering relevant to grains, the processes of grain heating and infrared radiation. Also included are valuable sections on radiative transfer in clouds and grain dynamics. Workers in the field of interstellar dust must find this a most valuable reference book to possess. --Contemporary Physics, Volume 51, Issue 6, 2010 Krugel's new book is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and is tremendously appealing because it requires no prior knowledge of astronomy. It can be used as a textbook, a self-study guide for graduate students or more senior academics, or a general reference for active researchers to delve into as needed. A major problem in investigating cosmic dust is that a proper study incorporates so many aspects of the physical sciences, and current texts rarely bring those topics together in such a coherent and concise form as Krugel does. --Angela Speck, University of Missouri-Columbia, Physics Today, October 2008

Author Information

Krugel, Endrik

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available