An introduction to the physics of white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes
- Provides an overview of the physics of compact objects
- Explains the fundamentals of general relativity
- Summarises the current state of knowledge on compact astrophysical objects
This book immerses the reader in the exotic world of compact stars. The author provides a comprehensible overview of the formation, properties and physics behind astrophysical objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes. After an introduction to the classification and evolution of stars, the necessary fundamentals of Einstein's general theory of relativity are explained. Using concrete astrophysical objects, the reader is then introduced to the secrets of gravity and the physics of compact objects. The topic is rounded off with a chapter on the formation and detection of gravitational waves, which are currently being detected very successfully with advLIGO, advVIRGO and KAGRA.
Readers will find answers to exciting questions such as: How should we imagine a white dwarf or even a black hole? What does the Chandrasekhar mass mean? Do black holes really exist in our universe? What is the significance of the theory of relativity in this field? What are gravitational waves? How are gravitational waves created when compact objects merge? How can these waves be detected?
This book's combination of astronomy and physics makes it ideal for bachelor's and master's degree programmes in physics and astronomy, but it also provides an introduction to the subject for interested lay readers. This book is also intended as a tribute to the achievements of Albert Einstein over 100 years ago, without whose general theory of relativity our understanding of compact objects would not have been possible.
The author Max Camenzind studied physics and astronomy at the University of Bern and obtained his doctorate in 1973 in the field of gauge theories of gravitation. After several stays at universities in Germany and abroad, he took over the management of a theory group in astrophysics at the Königstuhl State Observatory in 1986 and taught astrophysics and relativity theory at the University of Heidelberg and the Technical University of Darmstadt.
