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What are the best books (upper undergraduate / beginning graduate) for stellar structure, stellar evolution, compact stars, etc. ?
Did one buy the Carroll and Ostlie text?nicksauce said:What are the best books (upper undergraduate / beginning graduate) for stellar structure, stellar evolution, compact stars, etc. ?
Stellar structure refers to the internal layers and composition of a star. This includes the core, radiative and convective zones, and the outer layers such as the photosphere and atmosphere.
Stars evolve through a series of stages determined by their mass. They begin as protostars, then become main sequence stars, and eventually evolve into red giants or supergiants. The final stage of evolution depends on the mass of the star, with more massive stars ending in supernovae or black holes.
Compact stars are extremely dense objects that are the remnants of massive stars after a supernova. They include white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
Compact stars form when a massive star runs out of fuel and undergoes a supernova explosion. The core of the star collapses under its own gravity, causing the remaining material to be compressed into a highly dense object.
Nuclear fusion is the process by which stars generate energy in their cores. As hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium, energy is released and this counteracts the force of gravity that is trying to collapse the star. The balance between these two forces determines the stability and longevity of a star.