M.Rees, University of Cambridge, UK

R.Ruffini, ICRA, University of Rome, Italy

J.A.Wheeler, University of Princeton, USA

This volume, faithfully reprinted here in its entirety, first appeared in the English and Russian editions in 1974 as an introduction to the rapidly developing field of relativistic astrophysics cosmology. Some of the classic concepts introduced in that first edition included:

-the lines of force of electric and magnetic fields near a black hole

-the ergosphere and effective potential techniques for a rotating black hole

-the details of rotational energy extraction from a black hole

-basic estimates for the cross-sections of graviatational wave detectors and for the energy sources of gravitational waves

-the scenario for gravitational collapse

This new edition is an effort to bridge the gap since 1974 in view of the enormous progress made in some of these areas over the intervening years and the increased complexity of the corresponding treatments that have been required. 26 key articles that mark this progress have been added here together with an extended new introduction linking them to the ideas of the original edition.

Edited by G.Meylan, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland

With a foreword by S.Chandrasekhar

This important volume contains selected papers by the celebrated astronomer Victor A.Ambartsumian, many of which are being published for the first time in English.

Section 1 contains papers relating to nebulae, including his simple formulation of Zanstra’s methods for determining the temperature of the central star illuminating a planetary nebula, which led to the first treatment of the relative equilibrium of a planetary nebula. Section 2 contains Ambartsumian’s papers on stellar dynamics, where he stresses the importance of the statistics of binary stars for the time scale of the universe. Section 3 contains his work on radiative transfer, including two papers in which he formulates the principles of invariance in the theory of radiative transfer. Section 4 relates to interstellar absorption and includes articles on the fluctuations of brightness of our Galaxy, formulated in terms of the principle of invariance, and the astronomical consequences of this principle in stellar statistics.

Edited by G.Meylan, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland

With a foreword by S.Chandrasekhar

The second part of this important volume, containing selected papers by the celebrated Armenian astronomer Victor A.Ambartsumian, includes a number of papers describing his discovery of stellar associations as a dynamical entity. Although originally treated with scepticism by fellow astronomers this discovery has had far-reaching implications in its field.

Section 2 contains ground-breaking papers on the evolution of galaxies and the violent activity within them, which were early presentations of ideas now central to the study of astronomy and astrophysics. The final section contains two papers about the philosophy of astronomy and Ambartsumian’s ideas about how the field would develop. It will be an invaluable reference source for astronomers and astrophysicists all over the world.

A.Weiss, W.Hillebrandt, H.-C. Thomas and H.Ritter

Max-Planck Institut fur Astrophysik, Garching, Germany

Cox and Giuli’s Principles of Stellar Structure has been the reference textbook for studies of the structure of stars for several decades. Its content and thorough discussion of all aspects of stellar physics make it a much needed tool for scholars and students.

This new second edition has been extended by four specialists in the field to take into account the most recent improvements relevant for the modelling and understanding of stars. New developments, such as results from the Hipparcos mission, the solar model and the inclusion of particle diffusion in stellar models have been added to the original text.

D.Benest, C.Froeschle, E.Lega

Observatoire de la Cote d’Azure, Nice, France

This multiauthor volume comprises selected papers and additional papers covering different domains of dynamics. It introduces mathematical methods for the theory of Hamiltonian systems and Fourier analysis in a comprehensive way starting at elementary level but also including up to date research and applications. The volume is intended as a useful source of reference for graduates and researchers working in mathematics, astronomy and mechanics.

Grigor A.Gurzadyan, Space Astronomy Institute, Armenia

This volume presents a comprehensive overview of celestial mechanics providing the reader with a solid basis on which to build an understanding of the theory of interplanetary flights. Restricted three-body and N-body problems, the role of the Jacobi integral, perturbation theory and many other problems. The theoretical development is fully detailed, first with reference to interplanetary missions of past and present, from Pioneer and Voyager to Ulysses and Cassini and then considering notable astrophysical problems such as the equipotential surfaces of binary stars and star clusters and the distribution of the eccentricities of binary stars. Advanced topics such as solar sailing, low-thrust propulsion and periodic orbits in the Earth-Moon system and new types of trajectories from Mars to Earth and Venus are presented. Recent developments in the discovery of extra-solar planets and chaos in the Solar System are also covered.

A.A.Boyarchuk, B.V.Bisikalo, Institute of Astronomy, Moscow, Russia

O.A.Kuznetsov, V.M.Chechetkin, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Moscow

In recent years, significant advances have been made in the numerical simulation of mass-transfer processes of binary stars. These are dealt with concisely in this book. It covers background theory and sets out basic principles giving many practical examples. It then offers a brief review of the available observational evidence of mass transfer in binaries.

Alessandro Morbidelli, Observatoire de la Cote d,Azur

This book describes recent results on the Solar System dynamics, with a solid theoretical basis and is strongly focused on the dynamics of planets and of small bodies. It begins by presenting the fundamental concepts of Hamiltonian systems theory necessary to work at ease in celestial mechanics. Celestial mechanics itself is then considered including the secular motion of planets and small bodies and mean motion resonances.

Jean-Louis Leroy, Observatoire Midi-Pyrenees, France

Polarimetry allows the acquisition of useful data that would be difficult to obtain using other methods in various astrophysical  situations; such as surface and the atmosphere of the Sun and the stars and detection of magnetic fields. For the first time, these different fields of study are presented from the same perspective, highlighting the common logic of all polarization phenomena. They are described in a mostly qualitative way with as few mathematical formulae as possible. Numerous references including the most recent works allow the reader to go deeper into the field.

S.Kato, S.Inagaki, S.Mineshige, Kyoto University, Japan

J.Fukue, Osaka-Kyoiku University, Japan

Contents:

1.Advection dominated accretion disks overview

2.Advection dominated disks: some basic properties and processes

3.Advection dominated disks: relations to observations

4.Cataclysmic variables

5. X-ray binaries

6.Interaction of radiation and matter

7.Self gravitating disks

8.Turbulence, viscosity and magnetic fields

Edited by N.S.Kardashev, S.A.Dagkesamanskii, Astro Space Centre, P.N.Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow, Russia

This volume provides a useful and timely reference for postgraduates and researchers in radioastronomy. Radioastronomical Tools and Techniques presents methods of processing radioastronomical data and also reviews current developments in equipment, radioastronomical antennae and observation techniques. The volume comprises two parts:

-Space projects which consists of papers contributing to the ongoing ground-space radiointerferometer RadioAstron VLB (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) project as well as the orbital projects Millimetron and Submillimetron (development of antennae at short wavelength to achieve higher sensitivity and angular resolution).

-Ground-based radiotelescopes, equipment and techniques, includes papers describing projects to develop and improve ground-based radiotelescopes and new additional equipment (receivers and data-acquisition systems).

A. Stöckli, R. Müller

This English edition of the biography of Fritz Zwicky highlights his fundamental research and discoveries including supernovae, dark matter, clusters of galaxies, neutron stars, gravitational lenses and morphology and also recognises his significant contribution to research in astronomy and astrophysics. It presents a fascinating account of the life and work of this great twentieth century Swiss scientist and will appeal to a wide readership.

R. Giacconi, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA and R. Ruffini, University of Rome, La Sapienza and ICRANet, Pescara, Italy

The first edition of Physics and Astrophysics of Neutron Stars and Black Holes was published in 1978 and comprised the proceedings of the international school “Enrico Fermi” (Italian Physical Society) held in 1975 in Varenna, Lake Como, Italy. The scope of the international school was to review the progress made in our understanding of neutron stars in the light of experimental knowledge acquired from binary X-ray sources. Some concepts, which have become classic, were presented in the first edition and this book continues to be of interest to students and researchers. The aim of this second edition is to provide additional reprints and make accessible the original reference material. The second edition of Physics and Astrophysics of Neutron Stars comprises two parts:

Part 1: the original first edition which provides valuable reference and reviews the progress made in the development and understanding of neutron stars and black holes and enables the reader to look back at the presentation of classic concepts and ideas.

Part 2: an Appendix of classic and key papers including the Nobel Lectures of three participants of the School: S. Chandrasekhar, J. H. Taylor and R. Giacconi.

Edited by N. Carlevaro, University of Florence and ICRA and G. Vereshchagin, ICRANet, Pescara, Italy

The Third Stueckelberg Workshop on Relativistic Field Theories was held in Pescara July 2008. The series of workshops are part of ICRANet programme and are held in recognition of Ernst Carl Gerlach Stueckelberg (1905-1984) and his significant contribution to research in quantum field theory. The proceedings of this workshop report on subjects of current interest including:

 - Quantum effects around black holes including vacuum processes

 - Observations of GRBs and lightening with the latest observations by the AGILE satellite

 - Quantum physics and the the gravitational field

The volume provides a useful reference for graduates and researchers working in these areas of physics and astrophysics.