Astrophysical Flows

This graduate textbook, Astrophysical Flows, explores fluid dynamics in astrophysics, offering foundational knowledge and covering critical topics for students in related fields.

The textbook Astrophysical Flows is derived from a course focused on astrophysical fluid dynamics, first published in 2007. It aims to provide graduate students with a foundational understanding of the fluid dynamical processes that are essential in the field of astrophysics. The book addresses a variety of topics, including wave propagation, shocks, spherical flows, and stellar oscillations, making it a comprehensive resource for students in astrophysics, physics, and applied mathematics.

Fluid dynamics is pivotal in understanding almost all conventional matter in the universe, and Astrophysical Flows emphasizes the significance of these processes. The authors carefully simplify the mathematics involved to highlight the underlying physics, ensuring that students can grasp complex concepts without being overwhelmed. Key areas of focus include instabilities driven by magnetic fields, thermal forces, gravity, and shear flows, alongside the basic principles of compressible fluid dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics.

Authored by the Directors of the UK Astrophysical Fluids Facility at the University of Leicester and editors of the Cambridge Astrophysics Series, this textbook has been developed from a course taught at the University of Cambridge. It is tailored for graduate students who possess a basic familiarity with fluid dynamics, making it an accessible yet thorough introduction to the subject.