Radiative Transfer in Stellar and Planetary Atmospheres (Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics, Series Number 29)

Radiative transfer is essential for obtaining information from the spectra of astrophysical objects. This volume provides an overview of the physical and mathematical background of radiative transfer, and its applications to stellar and planetary atmospheres. It covers the phenomenology and physics of early-type and late-type stars, as well as ultra-cool dwarf stars and extrasolar planets. Importantly, it provides a bridge between classical radiative transfer and stellar atmosphere modelling and novel approaches, from both theoretical and computational standpoints. With new fields of application and a dramatic improvement in both observational and computational facilities, it also discusses the future outlook for the field. Chapters are written by eminent researchers from across the astronomical disciplines where radiative transfer is employed. Using the most recent observations, this is a go-to resource for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics. Cover......Page 1 Front Matter ......Page 3 Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics......Page 5 RADIATIVE TRANSFER IN STELLAR AND PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES......Page 7 Copyright ......Page 8 Contents ......Page 9 Contributors......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 13 1 The Physical Grounds of Radiative Transfer......Page 15 2 Fundamental Physical Aspects of Radiative Transfer......Page 47 3 Numerical Methods in Radiative Transfer......Page 95 4 Stellar Atmosphere Codes......Page 131 5 Radiative Transfer in the (Expanding) Atmospheres of Early-Type Stars, and Related Problems......Page 165 6 Phenomenology and Physics of Late-Type Stars......Page 205 7 Modelling the Atmospheres of Ultracool Dwarfs and Extrasolar Planets......Page 237 "Radiative transfer is essential for obtaining information from the spectra of astrophysical objects. This volume provides an overview of the physical and mathematical background of radiative transfer, and its applications to stellar and planetary atmospheres. It covers the phenomenology and physics of early-type and late-type stars, as well as ultra-cool dwarf stars and extrasolar planets"-- Provided by publisher This volume gives an essential overview of the physical and mathematical background of radiative transfer, and its applications to stellar and planetary atmospheres. With improvements in observational and computational facilities and new applications in the field, it is a go-to resource for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics.