These are the proceedings of the Sant Cugat Forum 2nd Workshop on Cosmic-ray Induced Phenomenology in Stellar Environments, held April 16-19, 2012. The aim of this Workshop was to address the current knowledge and challenges of high-energy emission from stellar environments at all scales and provide a comprehensive review of the state of the field from the observational to the theoretical perspectives. In the meeting, the prospects for possible observations with planned instruments across the multi-wavelength spectrum were analyzed and also how they impact on our understanding of these systems.
This book summarizes the science to be carried out by the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array, a major ground-based gamma-ray observatory that will be constructed over the next six to eight years. The major scientific themes, as well as core program of key science projects, have been developed by the CTA Consortium, a collaboration of scientists from many institutions worldwide.CTA will be the major facility in high-energy and very high-energy photon astronomy over the next decade and beyond. CTA will have capabilities well beyond past and present observatories. Thus, CTA's science program is expected to be rich and broad and will complement other major multiwavelength and multimessenger facilities. This book is intended to be the primary resource for the science case for CTA and it thus will be of great interest to the broader physics and astronomy communities. The electronic version (e-book) is available in open access.
Star-formation is one of the key processes that shape the current state and evolution of galaxies. This volume provides a comprehensive presentation of the different methods used to measure the intensity of recent or on-going star-forming activity in galaxies, discussing their advantages and complications in detail. It includes a thorough overview of the theoretical underpinnings of star-formation rate indicators, including topics such as stellar evolution and stellar spectra, the stellar initial mass function, and the physical conditions in the interstellar medium. The authors bring together in one place detailed and comparative discussions of traditional and new star-formation rate indicators, star-formation rate measurements in different spatial scales, and comparisons of star-formation rate indicators probing different stellar populations, along with the corresponding theoretical background. This is a useful reference for students and researchers working in the field of extragalactic astrophysics and studying star-formation in local and higher-redshift galaxies.
This book consists of 4 titles, which are the following: Cosmic Inflation - Cosmic inflation is more than just a theoretical construct; it is a crucial piece of the puzzle in our understanding of the universe's origins and its subsequent evolution. At its core, the concept of cosmic inflation addresses some of the most profound questions in cosmology, such as why the universe appears so uniform on large scales, despite the randomness we might expect from the chaotic conditions of the Big Bang. Without inflation, these puzzles remain unresolved, leaving gaps in our understanding of how the universe came to be the way it is. Cosmic Rays - Cosmic rays are an intriguing aspect of astrophysics, originating from various sources in the universe, such as supernovae, pulsars, and even black holes. They consist of charged particles accelerated to incredible energies, often far beyond what our most powerful particle accelerators on Earth can achieve. These particles, when they collide with the Earth's atmosphere, create secondary particles in a cascade of interactions, leading to a fascinating array of phenomena. Multiverse Theory - Multiverse theory posits the existence of multiple, possibly infinite, universes that exist parallel to our own, collectively forming what is known as the "multiverse." The origins of this theory are rooted in quantum mechanics and cosmology. String Theory - String theory is a theoretical framework aiming to unify all fundamental forces and particles by positing that they are vibrations of one-dimensional "strings," rather than point-like particles. These strings, in different vibrational modes, correspond to various particle types and properties.
Stars are mostly found in binary and multiple systems, with at least 50% of all solar-like stars having companions; this fraction approaches 100% for the most massive stars. A large proportion of these systems interact and alter the structure and evolution of their components, leading to exotic objects such as Algol variables, blue stragglers and other chemically peculiar stars, but also to phenomena such as non-spherical planetary nebulae, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. While it is understood that binaries play a critical role in the Initial Mass Function, the interactions among binary systems significantly affect the dynamical evolution of stellar clusters and galaxies. This interdisciplinary volume presents results from state-of-the-art models and observations aimed at studying the impact of binaries on stellar evolution in resolved and unresolved populations. Serving as a bridge between observational and theoretical astronomy, it is a comprehensive review for researchers and advanced students of astrophysics.
This book addresses three “hot” topics concerning the general problem of the origin of Galactic cosmic rays, namely (1) the acceleration, propagation, and radiation of particles in supernova remnants; (2) very high energy neutrinos from the Galactic Center; and (3) the potential held by the next-generation gamma-ray and neutrino detectors CTA and KM3NeT for studying extended non-thermal sources in the Galaxy. The topics are intrinsically connected to determining the nature (“hadronic or leptonic?”) of gamma-ray emissions from young and middle-aged supernova remnants and the search for cosmic-ray PeVatrons. The results and conclusions provided here are based on extensive analytical and numerical simulations, which are formulated and presented in a straightforward format that can be readily used in the interpretations of gamma-ray and neutrino observations, as well as for confident predictions for future measurements.
In the first part, the book gives an up-to-date summary of the observational data. In the second part, it deals with the kinetic description of cosmic ray plasma. The underlying diffusion-convection transport equation, which governs the coupling between cosmic rays and the background plasma, is derived and analyzed in detail. In the third part, several applications of the solutions of the transport equation are presented and how key observations in cosmic ray physics can be accounted for is demonstrated.
Cosmic rays are an intriguing aspect of astrophysics, originating from various sources in the universe, such as supernovae, pulsars, and even black holes. They consist of charged particles accelerated to incredible energies, often far beyond what our most powerful particle accelerators on Earth can achieve. These particles, when they collide with the Earth's atmosphere, create secondary particles in a cascade of interactions, leading to a fascinating array of phenomena. Studying cosmic rays provides valuable insights into the universe's most extreme environments and processes. They offer clues about the composition of cosmic objects, the nature of dark matter, and the magnetic fields permeating space. Moreover, understanding cosmic rays is crucial for space exploration, as they pose radiation hazards to astronauts and spacecraft. Researchers use ground-based detectors, high-altitude balloons, and even satellites to study cosmic rays from different vantage points. By analyzing the energy spectrum, arrival directions, and particle types, scientists aim to unlock the mysteries surrounding these enigmatic messengers from the cosmos.
Starburst regions in nearby and distant galaxies have a profound impact on our understanding of the early universe. This new, substantially updated and extended edition of Norbert Schulz’s unique book "From Dust to Stars" describes complex physical processes involved in the creation and early evolution of stars. It illustrates how these processes reveal themselves from radio wavelengths to high energy X-rays and gamma–rays, with special reference towards high energy signatures. Several sections devoted to key analysis techniques demonstrate how modern research in this field is pursued and new chapters are introduced on massive star formation, proto-planetary disks and observations of young exoplanets. Recent advances and contemporary research on the theory of star formation are explained, as are new observations, specifically from the three great observatories of the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory which all now operate at the same time and make high resolution space based observing in its prime. As indicated by the new title two new chapters have been included on proto-planetary disks and young exoplanets. Many more colour images illustrate attractive old and new topics that have evolved in recent years. The author gives updates in theory, fragmentation, dust, and circumstellar disks and emphasizes and strengthens the targeting of graduate students and young researchers, focusing more on computational approaches in this edition.
Studies of stellar formation in galaxies have a profound impact on our understanding of the present and the early universe. The book describes complex physical processes involved in the creation of stars and during their young lives. It illustrates how these processes reveal themselves from radio wavelengths to high energy X-rays and gamma -rays, with special reference towards high energy signatures. Several sections devoted to key analysis techniques demonstrate how modern research in this field is pursued.
