Origin and Evolution of the Elements: Volume 4, Carnegie Observatories Astrophysics Series

Description

This comprehensive volume reviews current understanding of the origin and evolution of elements, from stellar nucleosynthesis to the chemical evolution of the cosmos. With chapters by leading authorities in the field, it describes models of how the elements are produced by stars, the nuclear processes involved, and how the quantity of elements evolved in our Galaxy and distant galaxies. The observed chemical composition of stars in different locations within our Galaxy and nearby galaxies is discussed, as are the compositions of hot and cold gases, of dust grains found between stars and in meteorites, and of the integrated light from distant galaxies and quasars. This authoritative volume is a valuable resource for graduate students and professional research astronomers.

Michael Rauch obtained his PhD in Astronomy from Cambridge University. He has been a staff astronomer at the Carnegie Observatories since 2000.

'The production standards of the book are extremely high. This enhances the pleasure in reading the book ... Anyone who has an interest in elemental or molecular abundance measurements anywhere in the Universe should have this volume on their bookshelf. I suspect that the shelf-life of this book will be significantly longer than that of most other conference proceedings.' The Observatory