Gravity's Fatal Attraction: Black Holes in the Universe
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 3, 11/5/2020
EAN 9781108819053, ISBN10: 1108819052
Paperback, 350 pages, 24.6 x 19 x 2 cm
Language: English
Richly illustrated with the images from observatories on the ground and in space, and computer simulations, this book shows how black holes were discovered, and discusses what we've learned about their nature and their role in cosmic evolution. This thoroughly updated third edition covers new discoveries made in the past decade, including the discovery of gravitational waves from merging black holes and neutron stars, the first close-up images of the region near a black hole event horizon, and observations of debris from stars torn apart when they ventured too close to a supermassive black hole. Avoiding mathematics, the authors blend theoretical arguments with observational results to demonstrate how both have contributed to the subject. Clear, explanatory illustrations and photographs reveal the strange and amazing workings of our universe. The engaging style makes this book suitable for introductory undergraduate courses, amateur astronomers, and all readers interested in astronomy and physics.
Preface to the Third Edition
1. Gravity Triumphant
2. Stars and Their Fates
3. Black Holes in Our Backyard
4. Galaxies and Their Nuclei
5. Quasars and Kin
6. Jets
7. Blasts from the Past
8. Black Holes in Hibernation
9. Cosmic Feedback
10. Postcards from the Edge
11. Gravitational Waves
12. Through the Horizon
Appendix
Gravity and Cosmic Dimensions
Further Reading
Index.