The Sun as a Star

by Roger John Tayler

Overview

Using mathematics appropriate for advanced undergraduate students in physics, this textbook provides a broad and wide-ranging introduction to the Sun as a star. Tayler provides succinct derivations of key results—such as the properties of spectral lines, the theory of stellar oscillations, plasma physics, magnetohydrodynamics and dynamo theory—in nine handy appendices, ensuring that the book is completely self contained. Altogether, this is an invaluable textbook for students studying the Sun, stars, the solar-terrestrial environment and the formation of planetary systems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521468374
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/07/1996
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.81(w) x 9.69(h) x 0.47(d)

Table of Contents

Symbols; Numerical values; 1. Introduction; 2. Observations of the Sun and other stars; 3. The quiet Sun and stellar evolution; 4. Magnetic fields and fluid motions; 5. The active Sun; 6. Activity in other stars; 7. Solar-terrestrial relations; 8. The origin of the solar system; 9. Concluding remarks; Appendix 1. Thermodynamic equilibrium; Appendix 2. The Zeeman effect; Appendix 3. Atomic energy levels and spectral lines: forbidden transitions; Appendix 4. Theory of solar oscillations; Appendix 5. Motion of a charged particle in uniform electric and magnetic fields; Appendix 6. Magnetohydrodynamic waves; Appendix 7. Dynamo maintenance of magnetic fields; Appendix 8. Plasma properties; Appendix 9. Motion of a charged particle in a spatially varying magnetic field; Suggestions for further reading; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Roger Tayler's 'The Sun As a Star', a modern precis of Hale's idea, is an excellent introduction to the Sun and its local environment. Tayler...admirably reviews, at the vector calculus level, basic plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics...The book flows well, with summaries of each chapter and detailed coverage of collateral topics in appendices...Tayler's book is needed and should remain a useful introduction to the subject for some years." Sallie Baliunas, Physics Today

"Tayler's book provides a good starting point for a scientist or engineer who is interested in learning more about the Sun and active stars." Meteoritics & Planetary Science

From the Publisher