Handbook of Infrared Astronomy

Ian S. Glass

Cambridge University Press, Aug 13, 1999 - Nature - 185 pages

Infrared astronomy is a dynamic area of current research. It has been revolutionized in the past few years by the advent of large, sensitive, infrared arrays, and the success of several infrared satellites. This handbook provides a clear, concise and accessible reference on all aspects of infrared astronomy. Throughout, the emphasis is on fundamental concepts, practical considerations and useful data. Starting with a review of the basic infrared emission mechanisms, we are shown how the earth's atmosphere affects and limits observations from ground-based telescopes. The important systematics of photometric accuracy are treated in detail. Spectroscopy--both stellar and otherwise--is explained, and illustrated with useful examples. An important chapter is devoted to dust, which plays such a central role. Finally, the technical background to infrared instrumentation is covered to help the reader develop a proper understanding of the capabilities and limitations of infrared observations. This volume provides both an essential introduction for graduate students making infrared observations or reducing infrared data for the first time, and a convenient reference for more experienced researchers.

Contents

• Infrared Emission Mechanisms: 5
• 12 Blackbodies: 7
• 13 Atomic spectra: 10
• 14 Molecules: 16
• 15 Synchrotron radiation: 23
• 16 Further reading: 24
• The Infrared Sky: 25
• 22 Atmospheric transmission: 28
• 23 Terrestrial background radiation: 33
• 24 Extraterrestrial background sources: 35
• 25 South Pole sites: 37
• 26 The sky as revealed by infrared surveys: 38
• 27 Balloon and airplane observatories: 40
• 29 Infrared databases: 43
• Photometry: 44
• 32 Infrared photometric bands: 48
• 33 Standard star observations: 53
• 34 Colors of normal stars: 57
• 35 Absolute calibration: 61
• 36 IRAS photometry: 64
• 37 Bolometric magnitudes: 65
• 38 Stellar effective temperatures: 66
• 39 JHKL photometry of galaxies: 68
• 310 Suggestions for further reading: 72
• Spectroscopy: 73
• 42 Stellar spectra: 74
• 44 Model atmospheres: 77
• 45 Infrared spectral atlases: 80
• 46 Interstellar medium: 81
• 47 Photodissociation regions: 83
• 48 HII regions: 86
• 49 Shocks: 98
• 410 Solidstate features: 99
• 411 Further reading: 103
• Dust: 105
• 52 Absorption and scattering by dust: 106
• 53 Practical aspects of interstellar absorption: 108
• 54 Determination of the infrared extinction law: 109
• 55 Polarization by dust: 112
• 56 Models of dust grains: 113
• 57 Equilibrium temperatures of grains: 116
• 58 Lifecycle of the interstellar medium: 118
• 59 Star formation: 123
• 510 Dust and HII regions: 125
• 512 Emission from dust in external galaxies: 126
• 513 Further reading: 131
• Infrared Astronomical Technology: 132
• 62 Infrared telescopes in space: 133
• 63 Construction components: 134
• 64 Individual detectors: 141
• 65 Detector arrays: 145
• 66 Efficiency of a system: 153
• 67 Seeing in the infrared: 155
• 68 Some representative instruments: 158
• 69 Observing and data reduction: 164
• References: 169
• Index: 181

Bibliographic information

• Title: Handbook of Infrared Astronomy; Issue 1 of Cambridge Observing Handbooks for Research Astronomers
• Author: Ian S. Glass
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999
• ISBN: 0521633850, 9780521633857
• Length: 185 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Sky Observation; Science / Physics / General; Science / Space Science / Astronomy; Science / Spectroscopy & Spectrum Analysis