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The Fundamentals of Stellar Astrophysics (Collins)

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    141576

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    This book presents a comprehensive, physics-first treatment of stellar astrophysics, guiding the reader from the fundamental properties of matter and energy transport to advanced models of stellar structure, evolution, and atmospheres. It develops the classical theory of stars through hydrostatic equilibrium, equations of state, polytropes, and nuclear energy generation, then builds full stellar interior models that explain main-sequence and post-main-sequence evolution across a wide range of stellar masses. The text extends these foundations to relativistic stars, rotation- and tide-induced distortions, pulsations, and oscillations, illuminating both stability and variability in stars. A substantial portion is devoted to radiative transfer and stellar atmospheres, including gray and nongray models, opacity sources, spectral line formation and broadening, departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium, and the construction of realistic atmosphere models. Together, the book connects microscopic physics with observable stellar phenomena, providing a unified theoretical framework for understanding how stars are formed, structured, evolve, and radiate.

    Thumbnail: This photograph of the Sun, taken on December 19, 1973, during the third and final manned Skylab mission, shows one of the most spectacular solar prominences ever recorded, spanning more than 588,000 kilometers (365,000 miles) across the solar surface. The loop prominence gives the distinct impression of a twisted sheet of gas in the process of unwinding itself. In this photograph the solar poles are distinguished by a relative absence of supergranulation network, and a much darker tone than the central portions of the disk. Several active regions are seen on the eastern side of the disk. The photograph was taken in the light of ionized helium by the extreme ultraviolet spectroheliograph instrument of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. (Public Domain; NASA via Wikipedia).​​​​​​

    This page titled The Fundamentals of Stellar Astrophysics (Collins) is shared under a Public Domain license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by George W. Collins II (Pachart Foundation) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.