Table Of ContentExperimental Astrophysics
AAS Editor in Chief
Ethan Vishniac, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA
About the program:
AAS-IOP Astronomy ebooks is the official book program of the American
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About the American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society (aas.org), established 1899, is the major
organization of professional astronomers in North America. The membership
(∼7,000) also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers and others
whose research interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects now comprising
the contemporary astronomical sciences. The mission of the Society is to enhance
and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe.
Editorial Advisory Board
Steve Kawaler Joan Najita
Iowa State University, USA National Optical Astronomy
Observatory, USA
Ethan Vishniac
Johns Hopkins University, USA Daniel Savin
Columbia University, USA
Dieter Hartmann
Clemson University, USA Stacy Palen
Weber State University, USA
Piet Martens
Georgia State University, USA Jason Barnes
University of Idaho, USA
Dawn Gelino
NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, James Cordes
Caltech, USA Cornell University, USA
Experimental Astrophysics
Elia Stefano Battistelli
University of Roma la Sapienza, Physics Department, Rome, Italy
IOP Publishing, Bristol, UK
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ISBN 978-0-7503-3119-7(ebook)
ISBN 978-0-7503-3117-3(print)
ISBN 978-0-7503-3120-3(myPrint)
ISBN 978-0-7503-3118-0(mobi)
DOI 10.1088/2514-3433/ac0ce4
Version:20211001
AAS–IOPAstronomy
ISSN2514-3433(online)
ISSN2515-141X(print)
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fromtheBritishLibrary.
PublishedbyIOPPublishing,whollyownedbyTheInstituteofPhysics,London
IOPPublishing,TempleCircus,TempleWay,Bristol,BS16HG,UK
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...to Patrizio, Penelope, Miriam, and Magda
“E′ cosí bello fissare il cielo e accorgersi di come non sia altro che un vero e proprio
immenso laboratorio di fisica che si srotola sulle nostre teste.”
“Itissonicetostareattheskyandrealizehowitisnothingmorethanarealimmense
physics laboratory that unrolls on our heads.”
Margherita Hack
Contents
Preface xiv
Author Biography xvi
Contributors xvii
1 Astrophysical Observables 1-1
1.1 Astrophysical Information Carriers 1-1
1.2 Cosmic Rays 1-2
1.3 Meteorites 1-5
1.4 Cosmic Dust 1-7
1.5 Gravitational Waves 1-8
1.6 Neutrinos 1-10
1.7 Dark Matter 1-12
2 Astronomical Optics 2-1
2.1 Electromagnetic Waves 2-1
2.2 Observables 2-4
2.2.1 Flux, Brightness, and Magnitude 2-4
2.2.2 Spectral Densities 2-6
2.2.3 Photometric Bands 2-7
2.2.4 Throughput, Etendue, and AΩ 2-12
2.3 Geometrical Optics: Snell’s Law 2-14
2.4 Lenses and Mirrors 2-18
2.4.1 Lenses 2-18
2.4.2 Mirrors 2-20
2.4.3 Lens AΩ 2-21
2.5 Diffraction and Interference 2-23
3 Telescopes 3-1
3.1 Diffraction-limited Telescopes or Not? 3-1
3.2 Refractive Telescopes 3-4
3.3 Reflective Telescopes 3-7
3.4 Telescope Mounts 3-12
3.5 Telescopes Construction 3-15
3.5.1 Telescopes Around the World 3-15
ix
