Nearly all the information we know about the Universe comes from the study of light as it reaches us. The understanding of this information contained in light requires both telescopes capable of resolving light into its different component colors, as well as detailed knowledge of the quantum mechanical behavior of atoms and molecules. This unique book, which is based on a third-year undergraduate course given by the author at University College London, presents the basic atomic and molecular physics necessary to understand and interpret astronomical spectra. It explains what information can be extracted from these spectra and how. Extensive use is made of contemporary astronomical spectral data to both motivate the study of the underlying atomic physics and to illustrate the results.
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Editorial Reviews
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"Jonathan Tennyson's Astronomical Spectroscopy is the most engaging introductory spectroscopy book I know of ... Without a doubt Astronomical Spectroscopy is the best book to read for anyone who is embarking on research in astronomical spectroscopy, as well as being the obvious text for an introductory course. It should certainly be on the shelves of every university and observatory library." Contemporary Physics
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical next step,
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This review is from: Astronomical Spectroscopy: An Introduction to the Atomic and Molecular Physics of Astronomical Spectra (Imperial College Press Advanced Physics Texts) (Paperback)
I have a BSci in Astronomy and have not yet attended grad school. I work for a world class observatory that uses spectroscopy of some sort in almost all of the science we do. Having only had brief overviews as an undergrad, this book was a perfect next step allowing me to gain a more thorough understanding the science that I am part of. Some prior knowledge of atomic physics is very helpful.
The problems at the end of the chapters are useful to verify understanding of the material.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third Year Undergrad level.,
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This review is from: Astronomical Spectroscopy: An Introduction to the Atomic and Molecular Physics of Astronomical Spectra (Imperial College Press Advanced Physics Texts) (Paperback)
It comes as a surprise to most people when they learn that rarely does a professional astronomer actually look through a telescope. Most of the time, in fact, he isn't interested in the appearance at all. What he actually wants (usually) is a spectroscopic analysis of the light coming from the object being observed.
The biggest telescope cannor resolve a star into anything but a point of light. The information contained in that point of light can tell you a lot about that star. The composition of its atmosphere, its motion, its temperature and more can all be determined by analyzing the light beam. This book was developed for a third year undergraduate level course. It presumes that the student had a prior course in Quantum Mechanics which covered the Hydrogen Atom, but no further atomic physics or spectroscopy.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good introduction,
This review is from: Astronomical Spectroscopy: An Introduction to the Atomic and Molecular Physics of Astronomical Spectra (Imperial College Press Advanced Physics Texts) (Paperback)
This is a good introduction to the topic but its a little thin weighing in at a little less than 200 pages. The book is very compact and written at the college level. It stresses the connection between spectra and quantum mechanics [of course]. The book would make a good college or graduate level textbook as a course in itself or an adjunct to physics or quantum mechanics.
The Table of Contents: 1. Why record spectra of Astronomical Objects 2. The nature of Spectra 3. Atomic Hydrogen 4. Complex Atoms 5. Helium Spectra 6. Alkali Atoms 7. Spectra of Nebulea 8. X-ray Spectra 9. Molecular Spectra 10. Solutions to Problems 11. Bibliography
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