Fundamental Questions in Astrophysics Guidelines for Future UV Observatories [Paperback]

Modern astrophysics has evolved early phases of discovery and classification to a physics-oriented quest for answers to fundamental problems from cosmology to the origin and diversity of life-sustainable systems in the Universe. Future progress in modern astrophysics requires access to the electromagnetic spectrum in the broadest energy range. This book describes the fundamental problems in modern astrophysics that cannot progress without easy and wide-spread access to modern UV instrumentation.

Modern astrophysics is a mature science that has evolved from its early phase of discovery and classification to a physics-oriented discipline focused on finding answers to fundamental problems ranging from cosmology to the origin and diversity of life-sustainable systems in the Universe. For this very reason, progress of modern astrophysics requires access to the electromagnetic spectrum in the broadest energy range. The Ultraviolet is a fundamental energy domain since it is one of the most powerful tools to study plasmas at temperatures in the 3,000-300,000~K range as well as electronic transitions of the most abundant molecules in the Universe. Moreover, the UV radiation field is a powerful astrochemical and photoionizing agent.

This book describes the fundamental problems in modern astrophysics that cannot progress without easy and wide-spread access to modern UV instrumentation.

Structure and Evolution of White Dwarfs and their Interaction with the Local Interstellar Medium.- Key Problems in Cool-Star Astrophysics.- UV Capabilities to Probe the Formation of Planetary Systems: From the ISM to Planets.- Ultraviolet Studies of Interacting Binaries.- The Need for Ultraviolet to Understand the Chemical Evolution of the Universe, and Cosmology.- Starbursts at Space Ultraviolet Wavelengths.- A View to the Future: Ultraviolet Studies of the Solar System.- Active Galaxies in the UV.- Fundamental Problems inl3–