Plasma Astrophysics (Frontiers in Physics) [Paperback]

Toshi Tajima (Author), Kazunari Shibata (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0813339960 | ISBN-13: 978-0813339962

The twentieth century has witnessed the transformation of astronomy from celestial mechanics to astrophysics. While optical telescopes may have presented a peek into the structure of the constituents of the universe, such as stars and galaxies, new windows of observation have revealed far more amorphous objects, from nebulae and sheets to filaments and voids, whose "violent" processes include flares, shocks, accretion disks and jets. In these processes, plasma is often the constituent matter-- as well as the medium through which the astrophysical setting becomes so violent. In this graduate level text, Tajima and Shibata offer a new synthesis starting where classic works on plasma physics left off. Beginning with a view of plasma astrophysics through fundamental processes of quasi-magnetostatic equilibria, quasi-hydrostatic equilibria, and non-equilibria, the authors go on to develop unique approaches to violent astrophysical plasmas-- as opposed to the more quiescent laboratory variety-- and their processes. The text continues with an exploration of the fundamental processes in hydrostatic, magnetostatic, and gravitational objects. The final chapter is devoted to a discussion of the applications of plasma astrophysics to cosmology, anticipating future developments in this exciting field.This text will be of enormous use to graduate-- and some advanced undergraduate-- students, as well as to physicists entering the field of plasma physics.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Toshiki Tajima is Director General at the Kansai Research Establishment, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute in Kyoto. He was formerly the Jane and Roland Blumberg Professor in Theoretical Physics at the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include accelerator physics and computational physics. He is co-author with Kazunari Shibata, of Plasma Astrophysics. Toshiki Tajima is professor of physics and computational and applied mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a member of the Institute for Fusion Studies. His research interests include accelerator physics and computational physics. Kazunari Shibata is associate professor of Astronomy at the National Astronomical Observatory in Tokyoo. He has taught a series of lectures on plasma astrophysics at Osaka University, the University of Tokyo, and Kyoto University. His interests include solar physics, X-ray astronomy, and magnetohydrodynamic astrophysics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (January 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813339960
• ISBN-13: 978-0813339962
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,167,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Needs a lot of editing., April 16, 2008

By 

George Stanton "George" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plasma Astrophysics (Frontiers in Physics) (Paperback)

This book has some potential, but it's written so poorly that it's almost incomprehensible. There are innumerable spelling errors and poor grammar. It's a lot like what you get if you take a website written in another language and put it through one of those internet translators -- you can make out what it's trying to say, but it's not easy. And for a technical book clarity is very important.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nice service, March 31, 2011

By 

Yu Liu - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Plasma Astrophysics (Frontiers in Physics) (Paperback)

I just get this book on time. The price is very cheap and the quality of the book is also very good, almost new.

Thanks for the dealer.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite pleasing, alot of quotables., March 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Plasma Astrophysics (Frontiers in Physics) (Hardcover)

Very well written. Tons of info, very interesting concepts