Ongoing studies in mathematical depth, and inferences from `helioseismological' observations of the internal solar rotation have shown up the limitations in our knowledge of the solar interior and of our understanding of the solar dynamo, manifested in particular by the sunspot cycle, the Maunder minimum, and solar flares. This second edition retains the identical overall structure as the first edition, but is designed so as to be self-contained with the early chapters presenting the basic physics and mathematics underlying cosmical magnetohydrodynamics, followed by studies of the specific applications appropriate for a book devoted to a central area in astrophysics.
New to this edition:
Chapter 6 gives an account of the present state of dynamo theory in general, and Chapter 8 the applications to the Sun and to other `Late-Type' stars with differing rotation rates -- the `Solar-Stellar Connection'. The minority of the more massive `Early-Type' stars that are observably magnetic are well described by the`oblique rotator' model, with a quasi-steady, `fossil' magnetic structure `frozen' into the highly conducting, non-turbulent envelope. Chapter 9 deals with the considerable progress on the associated theoretical problems.
Chapter 7 contains new material, relevant to both Late- and Early-Type Main Sequence stars, to the evolved Red Giants, and also to contracting pre-Main Sequence stars (Chapter 10}, which show the highest degree of magnetic activity (the magneto-rotational instability, and the magneto-centrifugal winds emitted by the surrounding `accretion disk'). In the earlier phases of star formation in molecular clouds (Chapters 11-12), `magneto-turbulence' is emerging as the appropriate scenario for the prediction of the mass spectrum of proto-stars, and the associated formation of planetary satellites. Chapter 14 describes developments in the study of the magnetosphere of a `pulsar' -- a magnetized neutron star -- consisting of spontaneously generated electron-positron pairs.
Industry Reviews
`Review from previous edition 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.'
European Astronomical Society Newsletter
`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...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.'
E. R. Priest FRS, Journal of Fluid Mechanics
`An authoritative resource and reference, a prized possession of any serious researcher in the field.'
V. Krishan, Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of India
`Each part builds to and explores issues previously clearly introduced, so that at the end the big picture of magnetism at work in the Universe (and not just in stars) emerges...There is still an enormous amount to be learned about magnetic fields in the Universe. This book is going to be a classic, and it will be used as an inspiring guide in the search.'
P. W. J. L. Brand, European Astronomical Society Newsletter
`If you are a graduate student who has become interested in stellar magnetism, you are strongly recommended to read the introduction and then extremely carefully the second chapter in which basic theories are described very precisely and skilfully.'
W. Unno, Astronomical Herald, Astronomical Society Japan
`The driving force behind the book is the attempt to derive a consistent theoretical picture of how astrophysical objects behave; to be sure, observations are used as a guide, but the overriding concern is that the theory should make sense and be internally consistent...This Eddintonian approach flies in the face of current pressures...it is reassuring to read an author who still believes in theory for its own sake.'
D. Galloway, Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
`The main strength of the book is that the author has been able to combine a clear description of the fundamental physical concepts and ideas behind each subject with a thorough mathematical discussion of the theoretical mdoels based on these concepts...What I personally like most about the book is that the author always tries to start from first principles as closely as possible...The author achieves a very good balance between the amount of algebraic
detail with which most of the models are treated and the global picture to which the conclusions then contribute.'
T. Neukirch, The Observatory
