Stellar Structure and Evolution

Stellar Structure and Evolution, the second volume in the Ohio State Astrophysics Series, takes advantage of our new era of stellar astrophysics, in which modern techniques allow us to map the interiors of stars in unprecedented detail. This textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students aims to develop a broad physical understanding of the fundamental principles that dictate stellar properties. The study of stellar evolution focuses on the 'life cycle' of stars: how they are born, how they live, and how they die. As elements ejected by one generation of stars are incorporated into the next generation, stellar evolution is intertwined with the chemical evolution of our galaxy. Focusing on key physical processes without going into encyclopedic depth, the authors present stellar evolution in a contemporary context, including phenomena such as pulsations, mass loss, binary interactions, and rotation, which contribute to our understanding of stars.

• Connects theory and observations to provide a better understanding of how the field developed and to provide the broader astrophysical context, offering a modern approach that incorporates current research advances
• Presents mathematical derivations alongside physical intuition and order of magnitude calculations to help students understand why certain effects are important, and what causes them
• Focuses discussion on key physical properties and introduces the specialized language of the field carefully to ensure students who did not major in astronomy are accommodated
• Illustrates how material from a diverse range of physics courses can be used to understand a complex physical system, drawing valuable connections to other courses that students will take or have taken