From Choice Revews on-line:
45-2582 QB461 2007-9980 CIP
Science & Technology \ Astronautics & Astronomy
Irwin, Judith A. Astrophysics: decoding the cosmos. Wiley, 2007. 427p bibl index; ISBN 9780470013069 pbk, $70.00. Reviewed in 2008jan CHOICE.
This book evolved from courses taught by Irwin at Queen's University, Canada. It is intended to provide intermediate and advanced students an introduction to the key principles and theories underlying modern astrophysical thinking. Our understanding of the state of the universe is based on interpretation of the matter and radiation that reaches Earth. After being emitted by astrophysical objects, the matter and radiation are altered by the
intervening space before being received by instruments on Earth. Correct interpretation of the resulting signals depends on understanding the physics behind the emission and transport processes. The book is unique in that its organization takes students through that physics from emission to reception. Good upper-level physics students will find the explanations lucid and complete. Graduate students will cherish this book as a useful reference for their classwork and research. The illustrations, index, and bibliography are quite good. There is also an extensive set of appendixes with many useful pieces of astrophysical data, mathematical relations, and reference material on atomic physics and scattering processes. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. -- A. Spero, formerly, University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Science & Technology \ Astronautics & Astronomy
Irwin, Judith A. Astrophysics: decoding the cosmos. Wiley, 2007. 427p bibl index; ISBN 9780470013069 pbk, $70.00. Reviewed in 2008jan CHOICE.
This book evolved from courses taught by Irwin at Queen's University, Canada. It is intended to provide intermediate and advanced students an introduction to the key principles and theories underlying modern astrophysical thinking. Our understanding of the state of the universe is based on interpretation of the matter and radiation that reaches Earth. After being emitted by astrophysical objects, the matter and radiation are altered by the
intervening space before being received by instruments on Earth. Correct interpretation of the resulting signals depends on understanding the physics behind the emission and transport processes. The book is unique in that its organization takes students through that physics from emission to reception. Good upper-level physics students will find the explanations lucid and complete. Graduate students will cherish this book as a useful reference for their classwork and research. The illustrations, index, and bibliography are quite good. There is also an extensive set of appendixes with many useful pieces of astrophysical data, mathematical relations, and reference material on atomic physics and scattering processes. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. -- A. Spero, formerly, University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
From The Electric Review:
ASTROPHYSICS. Decoding the Cosmos. Judith A. Irwin. John Wiley.Irwin’s text is a masterful exploration of the study of astrophysics, examining the key theories that connect the core principles of physics and astronomy. Here, student-readers are presented with a delicate analysis of the physics of astronomy, with pertinent discussion of how densities, temperatures, masses and energies are determined (further communicating information about these independent worlds separated from earth by perfect bands of space). Topics of coverage include the power of light (luminosity and spectral power); the interaction of light with matter; the interaction of light with space; the essentials of matter; and the essentials of radiation.
Target: Highly recommended as a frontline teaching text in all undergraduate astrophysics classes. This selection is noted for its clarity of presentation and for its wonderful illustrations that serve to illuminate key-points for the reader.
Target: Highly recommended as a frontline teaching text in all undergraduate astrophysics classes. This selection is noted for its clarity of presentation and for its wonderful illustrations that serve to illuminate key-points for the reader.
From The Higher Education Academy:
Reviews -- A guide to publications in the physics sciences, June, 2008, The Higher Education Academy Physical Sciences Centre (page 4) Five stars in all categories. "This is a very easy to read textbook, although full of physical insight. ... I enjoyed reading this book throughout. ... The amount of mathematics
is at the right level." Nicolas Labrosse, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow
is at the right level." Nicolas Labrosse, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow