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Elsevier

Books in Astronomy astrophysics space science

This comprehensive portfolio covers the fundamental principles, observational techniques, and theoretical frameworks of astronomy and space science. Featuring the latest research on celestial phenomena, instrumentation, and data analysis, it supports astronomers, astrophysicists, and students in exploring the universe’s origins, structure, and evolution. From planetary systems to cosmology, these resources facilitate ground breaking discoveries and innovative methodologies, addressing key scientific challenges and inspiring future exploration in the vast realm of space science.

  • Cosmic Rays at Earth

    • 1st Edition
    • P.K.F. Grieder
    • English
    In 1912 Victor Franz Hess made the revolutionary discovery that ionizing radiation is incident upon the Earth from outer space. He showed with ground-based and balloon-borne detectors that the intensity of the radiation did not change significantly between day and night. Consequently, the sun could not be regarded as the sources of this radiation and the question of its origin remained unanswered. Today, almost one hundred years later the question of the origin of the cosmic radiation still remains a mystery.Hess' discovery has given an enormous impetus to large areas of science, in particular to physics, and has played a major role in the formation of our current understanding of universal evolution. For example, the development of new fields of research such as elementary particle physics, modern astrophysics and cosmology are direct consequences of this discovery. Over the years the field of cosmic ray research has evolved in various directions: Firstly, the field of particle physics that was initiated by the discovery of many so-called elementary particles in the cosmic radiation. There is a strong trend from the accelerator physics community to reenter the field of cosmic ray physics, now under the name of astroparticle physics. Secondly, an important branch of cosmic ray physics that has rapidly evolved in conjunction with space exploration concerns the low energy portion of the cosmic ray spectrum. Thirdly, the branch of research that is concerned with the origin, acceleration and propagation of the cosmic radiation represents a great challenge for astrophysics, astronomy and cosmology. Presently very popular fields of research have rapidly evolved, such as high-energy gamma ray and neutrino astronomy. In addition, high-energy neutrino astronomy may soon initiate as a likely spin-off neutrino tomography of the Earth and thus open a unique new branch of geophysical research of the interior of the Earth. Finally, of considerable interest are the biological and medical aspects of the cosmic radiation because of it ionizing character and the inevitable irradiation to which we are exposed. This book is a reference manual for researchers and students of cosmic ray physics and associated fields and phenomena. It is not intended to be a tutorial. However, the book contains an adequate amount of background materials that its content should be useful to a broad community of scientists and professionals. The present book contains chiefly a data collection in compact form that covers the cosmic radiation in the vicinity of the Earth, in the Earth's atmosphere, at sea level and underground. Included are predominantly experimental but also theoretical data. In addition the book contains related data, definitions and important relations. The aim of this book is to offer the reader in a single volume a readily available comprehensive set of data that will save him the need of frequent time consuming literature searches.

  • Astronomical Optics

    • 2nd Edition
    • Daniel J. Schroeder
    • English
    This book provides a unified treatment of the characteristics of telescopes of all types, both those whose performance is set by geometrical aberrations and the effect of the atmosphere, and those diffraction-limited telescopes designed for observations from above the atmosphere. The emphasis throughout is on basic principles, such as Fermat's principle, and their application to optical systems specifically designed to image distant celestial sources. The book also contains thorough discussions of the principles underlying all spectroscopic instrumentation, with special emphasis on grating instruments used with telescopes. An introduction to adaptive optics provides the needed background for further inquiry into this rapidly developing area.

  • Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics

    • 1st Edition
    • Y. Suzuki + 1 more
    • English
    The scientific program of these important proceedings was arranged to cover most of the field of neutrino physics. In light of the rapid growth of interest stimulated by new interesting results from the field, more than half of the papers presented here are related to the neutrino mass and oscillations, including atmospheric and solar neutrino studies. Neutrino mass and oscillations could imply the existence of a mass scale many orders of magnitudes higher than presented in current physics and will probably guide scientists beyond the standard model of particle physics.

  • Magnetospheric Research with Advanced Techniques

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 9
    • R.L. Xu + 1 more
    • English
    Launches of several major magnetospheric research satellites (i.e., Polar, Wind, and Interball) set the scene for extensive multi-platform investigations of the Earth's plasma environment in the era of the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program. Exciting new results from this Program and the ongoing innovative advances to scientific instrumentation and spacecraft technology are vitally important for the international space community in preparing for future plans in the upcoming new millenium. This volume is a product of the COSPAR Colloquium held in Beijing on April 15-19, 1996 aimed to consolidate these achievements. It contains state-of-the-art articles in the four areas of modern magnetospheric techniques, namely, (1) active experiment in space, (2) innovative measurement technique, (3) multi-point observation, and (4) numerical simulation and theoretical analysis. Researchers in the space community, both novices and experts, are expected to benefit from this collection of articles.

  • Laser Ablation and Desorption

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 30
    • Thomas Lucatorto + 1 more
    • English
    This volume introduces the subject of laser ablation and desorption to scientists and engineers. It covers fundamental experimental and theoretical tools, models, and techniques, and introduces the most important applications. Clearly written and organized in a straightforward manner, Laser Ablation and Desorption lead the reader straight through the fundamentals of laser-surface interactions. Each chapter is self-contained and includes references to other chapters as necessary, so that readers may begin with the topic of greatest interest and follow the references to other aspects of the subject contained within the book.

  • Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System, Revised Edition

    • 1st Edition
    • John S. Lewis
    • English
    Physics and Chemistry of the Solar System, Revised Edition is a comprehensive survey of the planetary physics and physical chemistry of the part of the universe that is best understood--our own solar system. Although many fundamental questions remain unanswered, or even unasked, research in these areas has advanced quickly, and the planetary sciences have benefited from both earth-based and spacecraft-based experimentation. These experiments form the basis of thisencyclopedic reference, which skillfully fuses synthesis and explanation. Detailed chapters review each of the major planetary bodies as well as asteroids, comets, and other small orbitals. With this reference, astronomers, physicists, and planetary scientists will have a state-of-the-art book whose uses include both teaching and research. This new version, featuring approximately 10% new material, will also prove an invaluable addition to any library in astronomy, planetary physics, and astrophysics.

  • Principles of Adaptive Optics

    • 2nd Edition
    • Robert K. Tyson
    • English
    Principles of Adaptive Optics is a comprehensive guide to adaptive optics systems and components. It covers all the basic principles, analytical tools, and instrumentation hardware included in an adaptive optics system. This single volume resource includes hundreds of references and outlines design and performance analysis of adaptive optics wavefront sensors, controls, correcting optics, and their integrated operation. The book discusses adaptive optics, system analysis and system design, and the major subsystems: wavefront sensors, correcting optics, wavefront reconstructors, and real-time controls. It details the principal equations that govern atmospheric turbulence compensation.The book contains nearly 700 citations that cover a quarter century of research and development. It includes a new section on laser guide stars and their usage. It also includes recently declassified military information on laser guided stars and all the governing equations of wavefront error, imaging system resolution, beam tilt or wander, scintillation, temporal spectra, anisoplantism, and guide star position.

  • Satellite Data for Atmosphere, Continent and Ocean Research

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 7
    • RASCHKE
    • English
    This set of conference papers covers such topics as: the need for water to maintain life; the atmospheric water vapour in all layers of the troposphere; the measurement of cloud water contents and the partitionof its liquid and solid phases; and land and ocean nutrients

  • Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 34
    • English
    Established in 1965, Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics continues its tradition of excellence with Volume 34. The latest volume includes nine reviews of topics related to the applications of atomic and molecular physics to atmospheric physics and astrophysics.

  • Earthquakes: Observation, Theory and Interpretation

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 85
    • H. Kanamori + 1 more
    • English

  • Planets and Their Atmospheres

    Origins and Evolution
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 33
    • John S. Lewis + 1 more
    • William L. Donn
    • English
    This work is addressed to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in astronomy, geology, chemistry, meteorology, and the planetary sciences as well as to researchers with pertinent areas of specialization who desire an introduction to the literature across the broad interdisciplinary range of this important topic. Extensive references to the pre-spacecraft literature will be particularly useful to readers interested in the historical development of the field during this century.

  • Topics in Ocean Physics

    • 1st Edition
    • A.R. Osborne + 1 more
    • English

  • Electric Propulsion Development

    • 1st Edition
    • Ernst Stuhlinger
    • English
    Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Volume 9: Electric Propulsion Development covers the proceedings of the Second Electric Propulsion Conference of the American Rocker Society, held in Berkeley, California on March 14-16, 1962. The conference focuses on the existing problems in electric propulsion and their possible solutions. This book is organized into four sections encompassing 35 chapters. The first section deals with the thermodynamics of arcs; the problems of heat and momentum transfer; the chemical processes within arcs; the arc system materials; and the arc jet design problems. The second section considers the problems of ion systems, the various ion sources, and the neutralization of ion beams. This section also looks into the basic ionization processes, the production and charging of heavy particles, the corrosive properties of cesium, and the ion-optical designs. The third section describes various plasma systems, including helical transmission lines, pulsed pinch accelerators, coaxial systems, and j x B accelerators. The theoretical analyses of these systems are briefly examined. The fourth section includes papers on flight testing of electric propulsion models, on vertical rocket probes, and on satellites, This section also discusses some advanced concepts in electric propulsion, such as air scooping during ascent through the atmosphere, systems design and optimization, and planetary and interplanetary missions. This book is of great value to physicists, space engineers and designers, as well as researchers in the fields of astronautics and aeronautics.

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