Book Around the Subjects of Supernovae and Stellar Remenants

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the topic of supernovae and the exotic stellar remnants they produce, with a focus on the physics and theoretical aspects of these phenomena. Participants share their interests in learning more about the subject, including recommendations for books and resources that delve into both the technical and theoretical dimensions of astrophysics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to learn more about supernovae and stellar remnants, seeking in-depth resources and books on the subject, including theoretical aspects like quark stars.
  • Another participant recommends "Extreme Explosions: Supernovae, Hypernovae, Magnetars, and Other Unusual Cosmic Blasts" by David S. Stevenson as a relevant resource.
  • Some participants suggest that a solid understanding of general relativity and statistical physics is necessary for studying the topics of interest.
  • One participant mentions their background in mathematics, including calculus and linear algebra, and expresses a willingness to revisit introductory materials alongside more advanced texts.
  • Several participants share links to books and resources related to compact stars and supernovae, indicating a variety of options available for further study.
  • There is a mention of the computational aspect of modern astrophysics, suggesting that this might be an area of interest for participants with a background in computer science.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of foundational knowledge in general relativity and statistical physics for the study of supernovae and stellar remnants. However, there are multiple competing views regarding the best resources and approaches to learning about these topics, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding which specific materials are most suitable.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their current level of knowledge and readiness to tackle complex topics, indicating a need for practice and review of foundational concepts. There are references to various books, but no consensus on a singular recommended text.

RyanJ
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Hi all!

It has been quite a while since I last posted here. Again.

I'm currently interested in supernovae and the exotic stellar remnants that are left behind from such events. I'm interested in the physics and science surrounding this subject, it's something that I currently have an interest in and want to learn more about. I'm considering doing a degree in astrophysics as I've found myself with quite a bit more free time recently. I'm brushing up on my physics (it's been a while since I used it).

I have no problem with them being technical and in-depth and would prefer the details as opposed to the popular science explanations, though I'll happily take a look at those too. I've gone through as much YouTube as I can find on the subject, but I find myself wanting for more information about the subjects. I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty with the math and whatnot.

I'd also be interested in any books about the more theoretical stellar remnants, such as quark stars.

If anyone has any suggestions then I would more than welcome them.

Thanks!
 
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What physics and math do you already know?

If you have not done so yet, I would consider studying a general astrophysics book first.
 
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malawi_glenn said:
What physics and math do you already know?

If you have not done so yet, I would consider studying a general astrophysics book first.

I actually started studying astrophysics before I dropped off the academic ladder after suffering a breakdown. I was about 2 years in, so not an expert (by any stretch) but I'm not completely oblivious either. I ended up restarting my education from a different direction, but I'm still considering pivoting back to astrophysics in the future. At present I'm going down a general computer science approach, but I've always loved astrophysics (well........ all of science really) and really want to go back to the subject in the future.

In terms of my background in mathematics, I've covered the equivalent of calculus IV (I'm not sure if this is the same everywhere, but here that would be the level of differential calculus), matrix algebra, linear equations, some set theory and some number theory.

I still frequently read astrophysics papers, but I'm somewhat rusty and in need of practice. I've still got my copy of "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" (and some other books around physics, relativity, etc.), though I've worked through all of the examples and whatnot in those. I'll happily go through any introductory books you suggest, in addition to any on the subject I'm interested in. I'll not turn anything down!
 
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For the subject you are interested in you also need a fair share of general relativity and statistical physics and so on.

Anyway we used the book by Shapiro but it is quite old and we also got suppleantary materials to read. I did enjoy the book though it was quite pedagocial and nice to read.
 
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malawi_glenn said:
For the subject you are interested in you also need a fair share of general relativity and statistical physics and so on.

Anyway we used the book by Shapiro but it is quite old and we also got suppleantary materials to read. I did enjoy the book though it was quite pedagocial and nice to read.

Thank you, I'll add it to the list. Like I said, I'm a bit rusty and I need to get pack into practice. I know it's a very... complex and difficult topic, but that'll be good motivation for me to get back into practice.

Computer science is far simpler. Far, far simpler.
 
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RyanJ said:
Thank you, I'll add it to the list. Like I said, I'm a bit rusty and I need to get pack into practice. I know it's a very... complex and difficult topic, but that'll be good motivation for me to get back into practice.

Computer science is far simpler. Far, far simpler.

Well lots of modern astrophysics is computational driven :) maybe this would be interesting to you as well

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1108928250/?tag=pfamazon01-20https://www.amazon.com/dp/052151407X/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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