Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei: An Introduction

by
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 1999-05-13
Publisher(s): Cambridge University Press
List Price: $126.41

Buy New

Usually Ships in 8 - 10 Business Days.
$120.39

Rent Textbook

Select for Price
There was a problem. Please try again later.

Used Textbook

We're Sorry
Sold Out

eTextbook

We're Sorry
Not Available

How Marketplace Works:

  • This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
  • Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
  • Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
  • Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
  • Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.

Summary

This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of quasars and active galactic nuclei (AGN). The latest observations and theoretical models are combined in this clear, pedagogic textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Researchers will also find this wide-ranging and coherent review invaluable. Throughout, detailed derivations of important results are provided to ensure the book is self contained. And theories and models are critically compared with detailed and often puzzling observations from across the spectrum. We are led through all the key topics, including quasar surveys, continuum radiation, time variability, relativistic beaming, accretion disks, jet sidedness, gravitational lensing, unification and detailed, multi-wavelength studies of individual objects. Particular emphasis is placed on radio, X- and gamma-ray observations--not covered in depth in any previous book. All those entering into this exciting and dynamic area of astronomy research will find this book an ideal introduction.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Acronyms and abbreviations xiii
Historical Background
1(11)
Introduction: the energy problem
1(1)
The discovery
2(2)
The nature of redshift
4(4)
Physical characteristics: quasars
8(1)
Physical characteristics: active galactic nuclei
9(3)
The Cosmological Framework
12(19)
Introduction
12(1)
The Robertson--Walker line element
13(2)
The redshift
15(1)
Extragalactic radiation fluxes
16(1)
Hubble's law
17(1)
The Friedmann models
18(4)
The A--Cosmologies
22(2)
Some useful formulae for cosmography
24(7)
Radiative Processes--I
31(34)
Introduction
31(1)
Synchrotron emission from a single particle
31(3)
Synchrotron emission from an ensemble of electrons
34(3)
Polarization of Synchrotron radiation
37(4)
Absorption of Synchrotron radiation
41(9)
Radio source energetics
50(1)
Energy loss and he electron spectrum
51(2)
Relativistic bulk motion
53(12)
Radiative Processes--II
65(36)
Thomson scattering
65(1)
Compton scattering
66(6)
Multiple Compton scattering
72(6)
Synchrotron self--Compton emission
78(2)
Thermal bremsstrahlung emission
80(1)
Non--thermal pair models
81(17)
Thermal pair models
98(2)
Concluding remarks
100(1)
The Standard Model
101(21)
Introduction
101(1)
The formation of a massive black hole
101(2)
The black hole environment
103(6)
Characteristic quantities
109(3)
The accretion disk
112(6)
Thick disks
118(4)
Surveys
122(30)
Introduction
122(3)
Optical surveys
125(11)
Radio surveys
136(2)
X--ray surveys
138(1)
Completeness of samples
139(2)
Corrections to measured magnitudes
141(2)
The surface density of quasars
143(9)
Luminosity Functions
152(31)
Introduction
152(1)
Definition of the luminosity function
153(1)
Evolution of the luminosity function
154(3)
Surface density and luminosity function
157(2)
The Vi/Vm method
159(3)
Determination of the luminosity function
162(6)
The quasar luminosity function at low redshifts
168(5)
The quasar luminosity function at high redshifts
173(2)
The luminosity function of Seyfert galaxies
175(2)
Evolutionary scenarios
177(3)
Bivariate radio--optical luminosity function
180(2)
Concluding remarks
182(1)
The Continuum
183(31)
Introduction
183(1)
Power law continuum
183(2)
Thermally dominated objects
185(5)
Continuum radiation form blazars
190(1)
Origin of the big blue bump
191(8)
The infrared continuum
199(3)
Variability
202(12)
Radio Properties
214(59)
Introduction
214(1)
Radio morphology
215(5)
Fanaroff---Riley classification
220(7)
Jets
227(9)
Compact sources and jets
236(9)
One--sidedness of jets
245(10)
The production and collimation of jets
255(1)
Radio emission from optical quasars
256(7)
BL Lac objects
263(10)
X--Ray Emission
273(39)
Introduction
273(1)
X--ray observatories
273(4)
Flux and spectrum
277(5)
X--ray surveys
282(6)
X--ray luminosity functions
288(5)
Broad band X--ray properties
293(13)
Relativistic beaming of X--ray emission
306(6)
X--ray and Gamma--ray Spectra
312(45)
X--ray spectra
312(1)
X--ray spectra: Seyfert 1 galaxies
313(9)
X--ray spectra: Seyfert 2 galaxies
322(2)
X--ray spectra: quasars
324(7)
X--ray spectra: BL Lac objects
331(4)
The diffuse X--ray background
335(8)
Gamma--ray spectra
343(6)
Gamma--ray production mechanisms
349(5)
The diffuse gamma--ray background
354(3)
Unification
357(26)
Introduction
357(2)
The Scheuer--Readhead model
359(3)
Core--dominated and lobe--dominated quasars
362(4)
Radio quasars and powerful radio galaxies
366(8)
BL Lac objects and FR--I galaxies
374(1)
Seyfert galaxies
375(8)
Quasar Absorption Lines
383(7)
Introduction
383(1)
Broad absorption line systems
384(1)
Heavy element systems
385(2)
Lyman--α systems
387(3)
Gravitational Lensing
390(17)
The classic tests
390(1)
The first gravitational lens
391(2)
The basic features of a gravitational lens
393(4)
The magnification and amplification of images
397(2)
Applications to quasars and galaxies
399(6)
Concluding remarks
405(2)
Problems And Controversies
407(19)
Introduction
407(1)
Quasars, AGN and galaxies
407(1)
The black hole paradigm
408(3)
Are quasars at their cosmological distances?
411(3)
Nonconformist evidence
414(3)
Non--cosmological alternatives
417(8)
Concluding remarks
425(1)
References 426(25)
Books, reviews and proceedings 451(3)
Author index 454(5)
Subject index 459

An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.

This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.

By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.

Digital License

You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.

More details can be found here.

A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.

Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.

Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.