An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the best book on the market that covers the most important topics of stellar astrophysics (stellar formation, stellar atmospheres, stellar interiors, stellar evolution, etc.) at the advanced undergraduate level. The sections on the Saha equation, the radiative transfer equation, stellar atmospheres and on nucleosynthesis are excellent. The explanations of the physical phenomena are clear and direct which makes this an excellent textbook.

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An Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics aspires to provide the reader with an intermediate knowledge on stars whilst focusing mostly on the explanation of the functioning of stars by using basic physical concepts and observational results.
The book is divided into seven chapters, featuring both core and optional content:
Basic concepts
Stellar Formation
Radiative Transfer in Stars
Stellar Atmospheres
Stellar Interiors
Nucleosynthesis and Stellar Evolution and
Chemically Peculiar Stars and Diffusion.

Student-friendly features include:
Detailed examples to help the reader better grasp the most important concepts
A list of exercises is given at the end of each chapter and answers to a selection of these are presented.
Brief recalls of the most important physical concepts needed to properly understand stars.
A summary for each chapter
Optional and advanced sections are included which may be skipped without interfering with the flow of the core content.

This book is designed to cover the most important aspects of stellar astrophysics inside a one semester (or half-year) course and as such is relevant for advanced undergraduate students following a first course on stellar astrophysics, in physics or astronomy programs. It will also serve as a basic reference for a full-year course as well as for researchers working in related fields.

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A First Course in Scientific Computing: Symbolic, Graphic, and Numeric Modeling Using Maple, Java, Mathematica, and Fortran90 Review

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(More customer reviews)Landau takes a refreshingly different approach to teaching students scientific computation. The field can be considered as two parts. One, the older and more heavily used, is about the "traditional" numerical analysis. You crunch numbers, and you get numbers out. The other approach is symbolic algebra.
Usually a text only deals with one type. Here, he teaches both. Plus, for each type, he offers the choice of two languages. For the numerical analysis, there is Fortran, version 90, and Java. While the symbolic algebra is performed using Mathematica or Maple. Ecumenical indeed!
These are excellent choices of languages. Fortran still dominates legacy numerical analysis, with massive libraries of subroutines that one has to work with or maintain. While Java lets the student learn good object oriented practices.
And Mathematica and Maple are perhaps the most common symbolic packages available.

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This book offers a new approach to introductory scientific computing. It aims to make students comfortable using computers to do science, to provide them with the computational tools and knowledge they need throughout their college careers and into their professional careers, and to show how all the pieces can work together. Rubin Landau introduces the requisite mathematics and computer science in the course of realistic problems, from energy use to the building of skyscrapers to projectile motion with drag. He is attentive to how each discipline uses its own language to describe the same concepts and how computations are concrete instances of the abstract.

Landau covers the basics of computation, numerical analysis, and programming from a computational science perspective. The first part of the printed book uses the problem-solving environment Maple as its context, with the same material covered on the accompanying CD as both Maple and Mathematica programs; the second part uses the compiled language Java, with equivalent materials in Fortran90 on the CD; and the final part presents an introduction to LaTeX replete with sample files.

Providing the essentials of computing, with practical examples, A First Course in Scientific Computing adheres to the principle that science and engineering students learn computation best while sitting in front of a computer, book in hand, in trial-and-error mode. Not only is it an invaluable learning text and an essential reference for students of mathematics, engineering, physics, and other sciences, but it is also a consummate model for future textbooks in computational science and engineering courses.

A broad spectrum of computing tools and examples that can be used throughout an academic career
Practical computing aimed at solving realistic problems
Both symbolic and numerical computations
A multidisciplinary approach: science + math + computer science
Maple and Java in the book itself; Mathematica, Fortran90, Maple and Java on the accompanying CD in an interactive workbook format

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