PHY983
Nuclear Astrophysics - Spring 2007
Booklist
The course will not use a text book, but copied materials will be made available. See the message board on the main page for information about how to get this material. The reason is that there is not a single textbook covering the entire range of the field that would be available at this time.
The course has a broad scope and will not follow any textbook (as these tend to be narrower in scope). Below a list of good textbooks in the field and a brief description of their shortcomings and advantages. You could consider buying one of these for additional and more indepth information.
| Author | Title | approx price | comments |
| Christian Iliadis | Thermonuclear Reactions in Stars | $90 | not available yet, to appear April 2007 |
| David Arnett | Supernovae and Nucleosynthesis | $57.50 | Good book on basics such as abundances, reaction rates, reaction networks, but in terms of astrophysical scenarios limited to massive star nucleosynthesis and supernovae. Lots of information on models - good book if you are interested in massive star nucleosynthesis models. . |
| Bernard E. J. Pagel | Nucleosynthesis and Chemical Evolution of Galaxies | $35 | Good, broad introduction to the basics. Main focus on galactic chemical evolution, which we will not cover in depth. |
| Donald Clayton | Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis | $29 | Outstanding book - a classic of the field - but to some extent outdated. Focus on stellar nucleosynthesis. In depth discussion of stellar physics (which we will mostly not cover). A "must have" if you think you will work in nuclear astrophysics. |
| Claus E. Rolfs and W.S. Rodney | Cauldrons in the Cosmos | $38 | Also a classic - the only book available right now that covers experimental nuclear astrophysics aspects (mainly low energy stable beam experiments) together with astrophysics. Focus on nuclear physics of reaction rates and hydrogen/helium burning. Great book, used to be a must have for anybody working in the field. However, the Iliadis book has a similar scope and is more up to date - but not yet available. |