High-Energy Astrophysics: A Primer

Description

This textbook is designed to serve as a link between the basic disciplines of physics and the frontier topics within high energy astrophysics, aiming at a level of difficulty congruent with that of other physics topics studied at undergraduate level. Therefore, this preparatory and introductory text serves as a gateway to a more detailed study of many of the most interesting and complex phenomena being investigated by contemporary astrophysics. Among others, these include: the evolution of stars, supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, solar neutrinos, and - importantly - the exciting new field of gravitational wave astronomy. The book is supplemented by a collection of problems with which students can test their understanding of the material presented. Acknowledgements Contents 1 The Nature of the Physical World: Elementary Particles and Interactions 1.1 Elementary Particles and Fundamental Interactions: An Overview 1.2 Elementary Interactions at High Energies 1.3 Standard Model of Elementary Particles 1.4 Strong Interactions and Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) 1.5 Gravitation as a Fundamental Interaction 1.6 Role of Weak Interactions References 2 Elementary Processes at High Energies 2.1 Genesis of the Concept of Photon 2.2 Processes Involving Photons at High Energies (Absorption and Scattering) 2.2.1 Photoelectric Effect 2.2.2 Compton Scattering 2.2.3 Pair Production 2.2.4 Total Cross-Section and Absorption Coefficient per Unit Mass 2.3 Relevant Processes for High-Energy Photons (Emission) 2.3.1 Black Body Radiation 2.3.2 Bremsstrahlung Radiation 2.3.3 Synchrotron Radiation 2.3.4 Čerenkov Radiation 2.3.5 Sources of Positrons and Pair Annihilation (Emission Lines) References 3 Detection and Instrumentation in High-Energy Astrophysics 3.1 Spatial, Spectral, and Temporal Domains 3.2 CCDs in Optical Astronomy and High-Energy Astrophysics 3.3 The Problem of Focusing (Imaging) High-Energy Photons and Its Solutions 3.4 Space-Based Instruments for X-Ray and -Ray Detection References 4 Stellar Evolution up to the Final Stages 4.1 Stellar Astrophysics 4.2 Basic Facts and Observations 4.3 Physical Description of Stellar Structure 4.4 Some General Considerations about Stellar Evolution 4.5 Stellar Evolution: Low Mass Stars 4.6 Stellar Evolution: High Mass Stars References 5 Supernovae 5.1 Supernova Types and Classification 5.2 Supernovae and Gravitational Collapse (Types II, Ib, and Ic) 5.3 Thermonuclear Supernovae 5.4 Type Ia Supernovae and Cosmology 5.5 Superluminous Supernovae 5.6 Expansion of Supernova Remnants in the Interstellar Medium References 6 Astrophysics of Compact Objects 6.1 Formation Events of Compact Objects: Statistics 6.2 Theory and Observations of White Dwarfs 6.2.1 In the Beginning … 6.2.2 Matter in the High Density Regime (ρ103 gcm-3) 6.2.3 White Dwarf Structure 6.2.4 Chandrasekhar Limit 6.2.5 Observations of White Dwarfs 6.2.6 Cooling and Crystallization of White Dwarfs 6.3 Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Structure and Evolution 6.3.1 The Pioneering Ideas 6.3.2 Matter in the Neutronization Regime (ρ1011gcm-3) 6.3.3 Relativistic Stellar Structure Equations (TOV) and Neutron Stars 6.3.4 Stellar Models and Comparisons with Observations 6.3.5 Pulsars and Other Neutron Stars 6.4 Physics and Observational Manifestations of Black Holes 6.4.1 Birth of the Black Hole Concept 6.4.2 What Do We Observe from Black Holes? References 7 Accretion in Astrophysics 7.1 Roche's Problem 7.2 Spherical Mass Accretion and Accretion Disks 7.3 Binaries Containing Compact Objects: Observations and Classification 7.3.1 Cataclysmic Variables (CV) 7.3.2 Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries (LMXB) and High-Mass X-Ray Binaries (HMXB) 7.3.3 More on the Binary Systems Containing Black Holes References 8 Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) 8.1 Discovery of Quasars 8.2 Types of AGN and the Unified Model 8.3 AGNs and Structure Formation in the Universe References 9 Neutrino Astrophysics 9.1 Neutrinos and Their Detection 9.2 Neutrino Sources: Solar Neutrinos 9.3 Neutrino Sources: Supernova 1987A References 10 Gravitational Waves 10.1 Gravitational Radiation: The Basic Physics 10.2 Sources of Gravitational Waves 10.2.1 The Binary Pulsar PSR 1913+16 and Gravitational Waves 10.3 Gravitational Wave Detectors 10.3.1 Interferometers and Resonant Masses: From Dreams to Reality 10.4 Detection of Black Hole and Neutron Star Mergers: The Beginning of a New Era 10.4.1 Overture: The Black Hole Merger Event GW150914 10.4.2 The Aftermath: A Merger of Neutron Stars in GW170817 References 11 Gamma-Ray Bursts 11.1 The Problem of Gamma-Ray Bursts: The Most Distant Objects in the Universe? 11.2 Models of the Bursts 11.3 Recent Observations and Models of GRBs 11.4 Fast Radio Bursts: A Related Phenomenon? References 12 Cosmic Rays 12.1 Messengers from the Greatest Accelerators in the Universe: Cosmic Rays 12.1.1 Origin, Propagation, and Acceleration 12.1.2 Ultra-High Energy Regime References Appendix Problems Reference Index