Galaxy Formation and Evolution

by Houjun Mo, Frank van den Bosch, Simon White

Overview

The rapidly expanding field of galaxy formation lies at the interface between astronomy, particle physics, and cosmology. Covering diverse topics from these disciplines, all of which are needed to understand how galaxies form and evolve, this book is ideal for researchers entering the field. Individual chapters explore the evolution of the Universe as a whole and its particle and radiation content; linear and nonlinear growth of cosmic structure; processes affecting the gaseous and dark matter components of galaxies and their stellar populations; the formation of spiral and elliptical galaxies; central supermassive black holes and the activity associated with them; galaxy interactions; and the intergalactic medium. Emphasizing both observational and theoretical aspects, this book provides a coherent introduction for astronomers, cosmologists, and astroparticle physicists to the broad range of science underlying the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521857932
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/20/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	840
Sales rank:	630,791
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

Houjun Mo is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Massachusetts. He is known for his work on the formation and clustering of galaxies and their dark matter halos.

Frank van den Bosch is Associate Professor at the University of Utah, and is known for his studies of the formation, dynamics, and clustering of galaxies.

Simon White is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Garching. He is one of the originators of the modern theory of galaxy formation and has received numerous international prizes and honors.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Observational facts; 3. Cosmological background; 4. Cosmological perturbations; 5. Gravitational collapse and collisionless dynamics; 6. Probing the cosmic density field; 7. Formation and structure of dark matter halos; 8. Formation and evolution of gaseous halos; 9. Star formation in galaxies; 10. Stellar populations and chemical evolution; 11. Disk galaxies; 12. Galaxy interactions and transformations; 13. Elliptical galaxies; 14. Active galaxies; 15. Statistical properties of the galaxy population; 16. The intergalactic medium; Appendices; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Unraveling the origin and growth of cosmic structures, from the simplicity of the Big Bang to the complexity of the modern Universe, is an unparalleled achievement of modern science. Written by renowned world experts, this book presents a clear, systematic and comprehensive exposition of the physics and mathematics underlying these breathtaking advances. It is compulsory reading not only for those aspiring to contribute to our growing understanding of the cosmos, but for all those who appreciate the beauty and power of contemporary physical science." - Carlos S. Frenk, Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Director, Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University

"...a comprehensive text on the modern subject of galaxy formation and evolution. The book is fully self-contained, covering the basic theory in depth, and including the essential background material on observations and the relevant theory from extragalactic astronomy, stellar astrophysics, and cosmology. It will serve as an indispensable reference for students and researchers alike, and is destined to become a classic in this field." - Robert C. Kennicutt, Jr., Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, Director, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge

"Every topic is extremely well referenced and current ... This book is likely to be an essential reference for any galaxy-formation-research student or professor. In the coming years I can see myself dipping into this treasure trove on a very regular basis." Shaun Cole, The Observatory

"...an ideal introduction for anyone with a minimal background in astrophysics who wishes to enter the field of large-scale structure formation. It is well suited for use in a general astrophysics course for senior- undergraduate and graduate students and is also an excellent reference source for more advanced courses on specific topics in astrophysics. The authors are leading theoretical astrophysicists who have made major contributions to galaxy formation theory. Their text provides a comprehensive review of relevant topics, ranging from the growth of the first density fluctuations to the evolution of the stellar populations in galaxies. It is a timely update of similar but now more dated texts...." Physics Today

From the Publisher