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Supernovae and gamma-ray bursts are the strongest explosions in the Universe. Observations show that, rather than being symmetrical, they are driven by strong jets of energy and other asymmetrical effects. These observations demand theories and computations that challenge the biggest computers. This volume marks the transition to a fresh paradigm in the study of stellar explosions. It highlights the burgeoning era of routine supernova polarimetry and the insights into core collapse and thermonuclear explosions. With chapters by leading scientists, the book summarises the status of a fresh perspective on stellar explosions and should be a valuable resource for graduate students and research scientists.
All theoretical and observational topics relevant to the understanding of the thermonuclear (Type Ia) supernova phenomenon are thoroughly and consistently reviewed by a panel including the foremost experts in the field. The book covers all aspects, ranging from the observations of SNe Ia at all stages and all wavelengths to the 2D and 3D modelling of thermonuclear flames in very dense plasmas. Scenarios for close binary evolution leading to SNe Ia are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the homogeneity vs. diversity of SNe Ia and on their use as standard candles to measure cosmological parameters. The book reflects the recent and very significant progress made in both the modelling of the explosions and in the observational field.
Covers both observations and theoretical developments in the area; valuable for researchers and graduate students.
The Extravagant Universe tells the story of a remarkable adventure of scientific discovery. One of the world's leading astronomers, Robert Kirshner, takes readers inside a lively research team on the quest that led them to an extraordinary cosmological discovery: the expansion of the universe is accelerating under the influence of a dark energy that makes space itself expand. In addition to sharing the story of this exciting discovery, Kirshner also brings the science up-to-date in a new epilogue. He explains how the idea of an accelerating universe--once a daring interpretation of sketchy data--is now the standard assumption in cosmology today. This measurement of dark energy--a quality of ...
Supernova explosions are not only important to the ecology of the universe, seeding it, among other things, with the heavy elements necessary for the existence of life, but they are also a natural laboratory in which a host of unique physical phenomena occur. While still far from a complete understanding, scientists have made great advances during the last twenty-five years in understanding the nature and conse- quences of supernovae. This book presents the state of supernova studies at the beginning of the 1990's, as reported at a two-week meeting on the Santa Cruz campus of the University of California in July 1989 in- volving 177 astronomers and astrophysicists from 17 nations. The 110 pa...
During the past several years, research teams around the world have developed astrophysics-relevant utilizing high energy-density facilities such as intense lasers and z-pinches. Research is underway in many areas, such as compressible hydrodynamic mixing, strong shock phenomena, radiation flow, radiative shocks and jets, complex opacities, equations of stat, and relativistic plasmas. Beyond this current research and the papers it is producing, plans are being made for the application, to astrophysics-relevant research, of the 2 MJ National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; the 600 kj Ligne d'Intégration Laser (LIL) and the 2 MJ Laser Mégajoule (LMJ) ...
Efforts to uncover the explosion mechanism of core collapse supernovae and to understand all of their associated phenomena have been ongoing for nearly four decades. Despite this, our theoretical understanding of these cosmic events remains limited; two- and three-dimensional modeling of these events is in its infancy. Most of the modeling efforts over the past four decades have, by necessity, been constrained to spherical symmetry, with the first two-dimensional, albeit simplified, models appearing only during the last decade. Simulations to understand the complex interplay between the turbulent stellar core fluid flow, its magnetic fields, the neutrinos produced in and emanating from the p...
A unique and wide-ranging review of one of the most dramatic research results in astronomy in recent decades.
"An impressive feat of writing that combines imagination, empathy, and a rock-hard edge — and never fails in its duty to maintain the ratcheting tension of a first-rate thriller." — The Sunday Times (U.K.) Jenny Aaron was the best of the best. An expert marksman and trained in four martial arts techniques, she was the star member of an elite team charged with tracking Germany's most dangerous criminals. But when a disastrous mission ended in irreversible blindness, Jenny was forced to abandon her dangerous career. Five years later, she's still haunted by her failure when she is called upon to investigate the brutal murder of a prison psychologist. Now she must test the new skills that sh...
This volume reviews the current status with respect to both theory and observation of the extragalactic distance scale. A sufficient accuracy is required both for a precise determination of the cosmological parameters and also in order to achieve a better understanding of physical processes in extragalactic systems. The "standard candles", used to set up the extragalactic distance scale, reviewed in this book include cepheid variables, RR Lyrae variables, novae, Type Ia and Type II supernovae as well as globular clusters and planetary nebulae.