This book offers an advanced introduction to the increasingly robust fields of extrasolar planets and astrobiology. No other text currently available applies this level of mathematics and physics, while also providing an extensive grounding in key issues of chemistry, biology, and geophysics.
'Scharf's coverage of exoplanets is quite wonderful and will be very valuable for classes. I enjoyed reading this presentation.' - Geoff Marcy, University of California, Berkeley
'I like this book very much. The writing style is clear and engaging and it provides more physics than most texts on astrobiology.' - Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University
'Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology is a well-rounded introduction to exoplanets and their potential habitability, suitable for both newcomers to the field (including biologists wishing to learn more about the astro- side of astrobiology) and experienced researchers looking for a course textbook to recommend.' - Lewis Dartnell, Astrobiology Society of Britain
Introduction, Background, and Preview
Star Formation and Proto-Stellar Collapse
Planet Formation
Exoplanets
Life: A Brief History and its Boundaries
Planetary Radiation, Comparative Planetology, Biosignatures and Daisyworld
Cosmochemistry, Dust and Prebiotic Molecules
Comets, Meteorites and Proto-Planetary Disk Structure
Habitable Zones
CALEB A. SCHARF was born and educated in England. He received his B.Sc. in Physics from Durham University, UK, and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge, UK. Following postdoctoral work in X-ray astronomy and observational cosmology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, USA, he has been a research scientist at Columbia University, New York, USA. He is currently Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Astrobiology Center, USA. His research interests include the study of exoplanets, exomoons, and the nature of environments suitable for life.
Description
This book offers an advanced introduction to the increasingly robust fields of extrasolar planets and astrobiology. No other text currently available applies this level of mathematics and physics, while also providing an extensive grounding in key issues of chemistry, biology, and geophysics.
Reviews
'Scharf's coverage of exoplanets is quite wonderful and will be very valuable for classes. I enjoyed reading this presentation.' - Geoff Marcy, University of California, Berkeley
'I like this book very much. The writing style is clear and engaging and it provides more physics than most texts on astrobiology.' - Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University
'Extrasolar Planets and Astrobiology is a well-rounded introduction to exoplanets and their potential habitability, suitable for both newcomers to the field (including biologists wishing to learn more about the astro- side of astrobiology) and experienced researchers looking for a course textbook to recommend.' - Lewis Dartnell, Astrobiology Society of Britain
Contents
Introduction, Background, and Preview
Star Formation and Proto-Stellar Collapse
Planet Formation
Exoplanets
Life: A Brief History and its Boundaries
Planetary Radiation, Comparative Planetology, Biosignatures and Daisyworld
Cosmochemistry, Dust and Prebiotic Molecules
Comets, Meteorites and Proto-Planetary Disk Structure
Habitable Zones
Authors
CALEB A. SCHARF was born and educated in England. He received his B.Sc. in Physics from Durham University, UK, and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge, UK. Following postdoctoral work in X-ray astronomy and observational cosmology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, USA, he has been a research scientist at Columbia University, New York, USA. He is currently Director of the multidisciplinary Columbia Astrobiology Center, USA. His research interests include the study of exoplanets, exomoons, and the nature of environments suitable for life.
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