Overview

Most stars appear to show some degree of magnetic activity. Varying magnetic fields show up in the familiar sun-spot cycle and in similar activity in other cool stars. Many hot stars carry steady magnetic fields stronger than the average solar field and are well described as oblique rotators. A similar model is applicable to the rapidly rotating, enormously dense neutron stars with their far stronger fields, observed as radio and X-ray pulsars. Galactic magnetic fields may play a crucial role in star formation, and in the spectacular behaviour in galactic nuclei. Cosmical magnetism in general is a rapidly developing field, and this book has grown out of the lifelong work of an outstanding researcher in the area. An authoritative account with broad astronomical scope, its thorough, careful and well-argued approach makes it a fine addition to the professional literature. Most of the important topics are treated in mathematical depth with references to other relevant literature. Some of the studies, especially those on accretion discs, dynamos, and winds, are applicable to galaxies and galactic nuclei. This book is sure to become an invaluable professional reference and guide to current thinking in the field. It will be of particular interest to graduate students, for whom it shows how the area has developed and indicates the many challenging research problems, some of which may soon yield their secrets to the emerging supercomputers.

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9780198517610

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Reviews

"""This is a fairly comprehensive treatment of the subject which begins with an introduction comprising an historical survey and a summary of observational data"" Aslib Book Guide, 'This excellent monograph by Leon Mestel, one of the pioneers of plasma astrophysics, fils in the gap for the area of theoretical stellar magnestism...I recommend the book to anyone interested in an in-depth treatise of stellar magnetism' The Observatory 'It was a real pleasure to hold this magnificent tome in my hands for the first time, to savour it and eagerly to read through its pages. Written by a world authority on cosmic magnetism, it is likely to become a classic in its field...Leon Mestel gives a self-contained and highly comprehensive coverage of stellar magnetism, including magneto-convection, dynamo generation of magnetic fields, magnetic braking by winds of stellar rotation, and particularly thorough accounts, of star formation and the pulsar magnetosphere. Throughout, he revals his deep physical insightt with typically shrewd turns of phrase and complements it with the necessary mathematical detail in impressive classical style...This remarkable book is essential reading for all wanting an up-to-date and authoritative account of the key role of magnetic fields in modern astrophysics indeed , without a full appreciation of this role a twenty-first century astronomer would be severely handicapped' Journal of Fluid Mechanics '... only an astronomer of the Leon Mestel fame can break fresh ground and walk it too ! The result is ""Stellar Magnetism"". If you want to know everything aboiut astrophysical magnetic fields but did not know where to look, then look no further. Leon's Sellar Magnetism, not only informs you, teaches you what is already known but inspires you to explore and discover more. I find this to be the most attractive attribute of this book ... The enormity of the effort spent on writing this book hits the reader as its each page test one's state of preparedness for pursuing this field of research; no place for innocents here !... In essence, Stellar Magnetism is an authoritative resource and reference, a prized possession of any serious researcher,in the field' Bulletin of the Astronomical Society 'written by one of the most highly respected figures in British astrophysics ... This is a very good book ... this is a superb but compromising book which will enrich all those who take the effort to come to grips with it ... The book supercedes a number of earlier reviews on most of its later topics, and the author has obviously striven to make this version of the material as tight and clear as he knows how---truly a scientific testament, though hopefully one which will extend to later editions in the future' Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics"

Written by one of the masters of its subject: and yet laced with sparkling lightness of touch ... This book is going to be a classic R European Astronomical Society Newsletter

Author Information

Professor Leon Mestel, Astronomy Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QJ. Tel: 01273 606755; fax: 01273 678097; email: lmestel@star.cpes.susx.ac.uk Emeritus Professor of Astronomy 1992 F. R. S 1977. Eddington Medal, Royal Astronomical Society 1993.

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