Princeton Series in Astrophysics

Richard O. Gray is professor of astronomy at Appalachian State University. Christopher J. Corbally, SJ, is a vice director of the Vatican Observatory and adjunct associate professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona. Written by leading experts in the field, Stellar Spectral Classification is the only book to comprehensively discuss both the foundations and most up-to-date techniques of MK and other spectral classification systems. Definitive and encyclopedic, the book introduces the astrophysics of spectroscopy, reviews the entire field of stellar astronomy, and shows how the well-tested methods of spectral classification are a powerful discovery tool for graduate students and researchers working in astronomy and astrophysics. The book begins with a historical survey, followed by chapters discussing the entire range of stellar phenomena, from brown dwarfs to supernovae. The authors account for advances in the field, including the addition of the L and T dwarf classes; the revision of the carbon star, Wolf-Rayet, and white dwarf classification schemes; and the application of neural nets to spectral classification. Copious figures illustrate the morphology of stellar spectra, and the book incorporates recent discoveries from earth-based and satellite data. Many examples of spectra are given in the red, ultraviolet, and infrared regions, as well as in the traditional blue-violet optical region, all of which are useful for researchers identifying stellar and galactic spectra. This essential reference includes a glossary, handy appendixes and tables, an index, and a Web-based resource of spectra. In addition to the authors, the contributors are Adam J. Burgasser, Margaret M. Hanson, J. Davy Kirkpatrick, and Nolan R. Walborn. "Anyone interested in learning about the classification of stellar spectra will be well served if they begin by consulting a new book entitled Stellar Spectral Classification. Beautiful illustrations and examples are given at every turn. . . . We can confidently say that this is not only a superb text but is probably the most comprehensive single-volume text currently available on the fascinating subject of stellar spectral classification. A valuable resource for the astronomical community, it exudes authority. This is no surprise for the book's authors and contributors are amongst foremost authorities in this field. Summing up, we can say that our first look at this book made us really excited." "A worthy descendant of Morgan and Keenan's foundational work, Stellar Spectral Classification fills a huge need by providing a spectacularly good discussion of stellar spectra. With a highly detailed and digital view of the modern art of classification that extends from the infrared through the optical to the ultraviolet, and includes full discussions of new cool classes L and T, there is not much on the subject that one cannot find in this well-written and richly illustrated volume."-James B. Kaler, author of Stars and their Spectra "Want to learn about the classification of stellar spectra? You have the right book in your hands. These experts take us through the historical foundations, philosophical underpinnings, techniques, and criteria used to classify spectra. Beautiful illustrations and examples are given at every turn, and the encyclopedic material is useful for anyone involved in stellar spectroscopy, from the beginner to the more advanced practitioner."-David F. Gray, University of Western Ontario "It has been about twenty years since the last book on spectral classification appeared. During that time, astronomers have switched from photographic detectors to electronic ones, and several new classes of stars have been discovered. This volume provides both an overview of the field and very detailed notes on individual spectral types. It should be required reading for both the students and the instructor in any graduate-level course on stellar astronomy."-Michael Richmond, Rochester Insti

Sara Seager is professor of planetary science and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Over the past twenty years, astronomers have identified hundreds of extrasolar planets--planets orbiting stars other than the sun. Recent research in this burgeoning field has made it possible to observe and measure the atmospheres of these exoplanets. This is the first textbook to describe the basic physical processes--including radiative transfer, molecular absorption, and chemical processes--common to all planetary atmospheres, as well as the transit, eclipse, and thermal phase variation observations that are unique to exoplanets. In each chapter, Sara Seager offers a conceptual introduction, examples that combine the relevant physics equations with real data, and exercises. Topics range from foundational knowledge, such as the origin of atmospheric composition and planetary spectra, to more advanced concepts, such as solutions to the radiative transfer equation, polarization, and molecular and condensate opacities. Since planets vary widely in their atmospheric properties, Seager emphasizes the major physical processes that govern all planetary atmospheres. Moving from first principles to cutting-edge research, Exoplanet Atmospheres is an ideal resource for students and researchers in astronomy and earth sciences, one that will help prepare them for the next generation of planetary science. • The first textbook to describe exoplanet atmospheres • Illustrates concepts using examples grounded in real data • Provides a step-by-step guide to understanding the structure and emergent spectrum of a planetary atmosphere • Includes exercises for students "Seager provides an excellent contribution to the Princeton Series in Astrophysics, which will appeal to graduate students and working professionals in astronomy." "The author, an acknowledged leader in the field, has written a text intended for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professional astronomers. The book is organized topically, and could easily be used alone or as part of a more general course in thermodynamics or radiation astrophysics. . . . This is an excellent resource. . . . The author's clear explanations are easy to follow."---April S. Whitt, Planetarian "As a basic textbook for an introductory course in atmospheric physics for undergraduates this book is fine; it's nicely and clearly written and includes model exam questions."---F. W. Taylor, Observatory "The book will certainly provide a useful starting point for what I suspect will be the increasing number of scientists wishing to work on the physics of exoplanets."---Jonathan Tennyson, Contemporary Physics "This book fills an important gap between astronomy and planetary science. I am quite sure it will become the standard text for any course covering exoplanet atmospheres."-Mark Marley, NASA Ames Research Center "Exoplanet Atmospheres is a major scholarly contribution to an exciting, scientifically important, and rapidly expanding area of research in astrophysics, written by one of its intellectual leaders. Seager pulls together a comprehensive and meticulously organized set of scientific results and techniques. This book will be a bible for students and professionals interested in exoplanet atmospheres."-Edwin L. Turner, Princeton University

Gary A. Glatzmaier is professor of earth and planetary sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. This book provides readers with the skills they need to write computer codes that simulate convection, internal gravity waves, and magnetic field generation in the interiors and atmospheres of rotating planets and stars. Using a teaching method perfected in the classroom, Gary Glatzmaier begins by offering a step-by-step guide on how to design codes for simulating nonlinear time-dependent thermal convection in a two-dimensional box using Fourier expansions in the horizontal direction and finite differences in the vertical direction. He then describes how to implement more efficient and accurate numerical methods and more realistic geometries in two and three dimensions. In the third part of the book, Glatzmaier demonstrates how to incorporate more sophisticated physics, including the effects of magnetic field, density stratification, and rotation. Featuring numerous exercises throughout, this is an ideal textbook for students and an essential resource for researchers. • Describes how to create codes that simulate the internal dynamics of planets and stars • Builds on basic concepts and simple methods • Shows how to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the numerical methods • Describes more relevant geometries and boundary conditions • Demonstrates how to incorporate more sophisticated physics "This book provides readers with the skills they need to write computer codes that simulate convection, internal gravity waves and magnetic field generation in the interiors and atmospheres of rotating planets and stars. It is very useful for readers having a basic understanding of classical physics, vector calculus, partial differential equations, and simple computer programming."---Claudia-Veronika Meister, Zentralblatt MATH "Glatzmaier's work is synonymous with the cutting edge of research in this field, and his tried-and-true presentation has been perfected over many years of teaching. I know of no other book that focuses on computer modeling of convection in planets and stars as this one does. It is an ideal tutorial for graduate students, and will also be of great interest to senior researchers."-James M. Stone, Princeton University "The computational methods Glatzmaier describes can be applied to a huge range of nonlinear problems, with a variety of physical effects. There is a great deal of potential here for new investigations. In fact, our generation has barely scratched the surface! This is an important message for young scientists, who will find in this book some of the tools they will need to make future advances in astrophysics and geophysics."-Chris A. Jones, University of Leeds "I am certain that this book will prove to be extremely useful to students and professionals alike. It is engagingly written, timely, comprehensive, and perhaps most importantly, graduated in its approach. Gary Glatzmaier is internationally recognized as one of the best computational scientists in geophysics and astrophysics."-Peter L. Olson, Johns Hopkins University