MARC Record from Library of Congress

LEADER: 02558cam a2200349 i 4500
001 2012007505
003 DLC
005 20120717124806.0
008 120221s2012 enka b 001 0 eng
010 $a 2012007505
020 $a9780521879804 (hardback)
040 $aDLC$beng$cDLC$erda$dDLC
042 $apcc
050 00 $aQB479.4$b.G73 2012
082 00 $a523.01/875344$223
084 $aSCI005000$2bisacsh
100 1 $aGray, Malcolm,$d1962-
245 10 $aMaser sources in astrophysics /$cMalcolm Gray, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, the University of Manchester.
260 $aCambridge ;$aNew York :$bCambridge University Press,$c2012.
300 $ax, 419 pages :$billustrations ;$c26 cm.
336 $atext$2rdacontent
337 $aunmediated$2rdamedia
338 $avolume$2rdacarrier
490 0 $aCambridge astrophysics series ;$v50
520 $a"Masers are observed at a range of scales - from comets, through star-forming clouds, to galactic nuclei - and have many astrophysical applications, for example measuring cosmological distances. Written for postgraduate students and professional researchers in molecular astrophysics, this volume is an up-to-date survey of the theory and observations of astrophysical maser sources and their use as astronomical tools. The book summarizes the history of the discovery of various maser molecules and lines, and discusses maser observations on various scales. The theory is discussed in detail, including the quantum-mechanical response of the molecules, before being linked to more general radiation transfer. A discussion of spectral-line radio astronomy techniques shows how maser observations can be applied more generally to radio astronomy. The book introduces new and projected instruments, including ALMA and SKA. Additional topics address the radiation statistics of astrophysical masers, and numerical methods of analysis"--$cProvided by publisher.
504 $aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 392-414) and index.
505 8 $aMachine generated contents note: 1. Introduction; 2. Discovery; 3. Basic theory; 4. Observations of masers; 5. Maser molecules; 6. Environments of masers; 7. Advanced theory; 8. Computer modelling; 9. Masers as diagnostics; 10. Future prospects; Appendices; References; Index.
650 0 $aAstronomical masers.
650 0 $aRadio astronomy.
650 0 $aMicrowave measurements.
650 7 $aSCIENCE / Astrophysics & Space Science.$2bisacsh
856 42 $3Cover image$uhttp://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/79804/cover/9780521879804.jpg