White Dwarfs: Cosmological and Galactic Probes

The emphasis on white dwarf stars and cosmology arises from the most recent advances in cosmological and galactic structure research in which white dwarf stars are playing a very prominent role. Examples are Type Ia supernovae (i.e. white dwarf supernovae), the origin and evolution of the universe, the age of the galactic disk, cosmochronology using white dwarfs in globular clusters and galactic clusters, and the physics of accretion onto compact (very dense) stars. As an assisting guide to the reader, we have included, by invitation, comprehensive review articles in each of the four major areas of the book, white dwarf supernovae, cosmology, accretion physics and galactic structure. The reviews include introductory material that they build upon.

The book is suitable and most useful to advanced undergraduates, graduate students and scientific professionals (e.g. astronomers, astrophysicists, cosmologists, physicists).

• Bulge
• Cosmology
• Star
• Type Ia supernovae
• Universe
• White dwarf stars
• accretion physics
• cosmochronology

• Villanova University, Villanova, USA

  Edward M. Sion

• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA

  Stéphane Vennes

• University of Delaware, Newark, USA

  Harry L. Shipman

Edward M. Sion, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Villanova University, Former Scientific Editor, The Astrophysical Journal, author or co-author of over 400 scientific publications on white dwarfs and cataclysmic variable stars, co-author of the Catalogue of Spectroscopically Identified White Dwarfs.

Stephane Vennes, Research Astronomer, Johns Hopkins University, Lecturer, Australian national University, leading expert on the physics of diffusion, radiative forces, and accretion onto white dwarfs, and specialist on space ultraviolet studies of white dwarf stars.

Harry L. Shipman, Annie Jump Cannon Professor of Astronomy, University of Delaware, Distinguished Educator Medal, the National Science Foundation, author or co-author of over 300 scientific publications on white dwarfs and author of Black Holes and the Infinite Universe and Introductory Astronomy, leading expert on white dwarf stars and science education.