Research Catalog

Title

Exploring the X-ray universe / Philip A. Charles, Frederick D. Seward.

Author

Charles, Philip A.

Publication

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Seward, Frederick D.

Description

xvi, 398 pages : illustrations (some color), maps; 26 cm

Summary

Exploring the X-ray Universe describes the view of the stars and galaxies that is obtained through X-ray telescopes. X-rays, which are invisible to human sight, are created in the cores of active galaxies, in cataclysmic stellar accretion onto white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes, and in streams of gas expelled by the Sun and stars. The window on the heavens used by X-ray astronomers shows the great drama of cosmic violence on the grandest scale. This account of X-ray astronomy incorporates findings from observatories that operate in space. These include the Einstein Observatory operated by NASA, the EXOSAT satellite of the European Space Agency, Germany's ROSAT and Japan's Ginga Satellite. The book covers the entire field, with chapters on stars, supernova remnants, X-ray binaries, normal and active galaxies, clusters of galaxies, the diffuse X-ray background, and more. The authors review basic principles, include the necessary historical background, and explain exactly what we know from X-ray observations of the universe. Copiously illustrated, the book is a complete account of X-ray astronomy, written for the non-technical reader. There are over 200 illustrations, many in full colour, from X-ray, optical and infrared telescopes. Many of the X-ray images are previously unpublished and appear for the first time in this book. Clear diagrams support the text, and more specialised topics are covered in separate boxed features.

Subject

• X-ray astronomy
• 39.11 astronomical observations, observatories, planetaria
• 39.22 astrophysics
• X-ray astronomy
• Röntgenastronomie
• Röntgenbronnen
• Hoge-energie astrofysica
• Astronomie des rayons X

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 388-393) and index.

Contents

1. Introduction -- 2. The tools of X-ray astronomy -- 3. Supernova remnants -- 4. Active stellar coronae -- 5. Early-type stars and superbubbles -- 6. Normal galaxies -- 7. Massive X-ray binary stars -- 8. Low-mass X-ray binary stars -- 9. X-ray binaries in globular clusters -- 10. Cataclysmic variable stars -- 11. Are there black holes in our galaxy? -- 12. SS433 -- the link with AGN -- 13. Active galactic nuclei -- 14. Clusters of galaxies -- 15. X-rays from planets -- 16. The diffuse X-ray background -- 17. Some major observatories of the 1990s.

ISBN

• 0521261821
• 9780521261821
• 0521437121
• 9780521437127

LCCN

92034641

OCLC

• ocm26851444
• 26851444
• SCSB-2081096

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library