Age-dating stars : from the sun to distant Galaxies / Maurizio Salaris.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

You must be crazy. Why do ages of stars matter? -- Age of the sun, geology, and biology -- Conflict over the age of the universe -- An echo of the distant past. Galaxies -- Expansion of the universe and cosmic microwave background radiation -- The big-bang cosmological model -- The formation of galaxies -- Set the controls for the heart of the stars. Early ideas -- The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and the development of stellar evolution theories -- The energy source -- Giant stars and white dwarfs -- Introducing the machine. The equations of stellar structure and evolution -- A summary of stellar evolution -- Stellar evolution tracks and isochrones -- Great hopes. Red giant branch stars -- Neutrinos from the sun -- Neutrinos from supernovae -- Helioseismology: the sun is in tune -- Hipparcos' Legacy. Magnitudes and colours -- Chemical composition -- Direct measurements of radius, luminosity and temperature -- This is what we do. The sun -- Age of individual stars -- Age of star clusters -- Ages from surface chemical abundances -- Crazy diamonds. White dwarf evolution -- Ages of white dwarfs -- Far away beyond the field. Star formation histories of galaxies -- Unresolved stellar populations -- What now? How accurate are our ages? -- Receding horizons -- Assorted (astro-)physics. Chemical elements, elementary particles and the four fundamental forces of nature -- Thermodynamics -- Parallax distances -- Spectroscopic parallax -- Mass, radius, and distance of stars in eclipsing binary systems.

"The determination of stellar ages has been - and still is - crucial for the development of our understanding of the universe, and to constrain theoretical models for the formation of galaxies and the evolution of planetary systems. Stellar ages provide scientists with timescales, and these timescales allow us to identify the relevant physical processes responsible for the development of cosmic structures. This book describes in a simple, yet rigorous, manner the vast array of techniques that have been developed and are currently being used to determine the ages of stars. It also explores how stellar ages inform our knowledge about planets, star clusters, galaxies, even distant galaxies that we cannot resolve into individual stars. Up-to-date with the latest research and technologies in the field, it includes the cutting-edge methods being used based on asteroseismology and discusses open problems that remain to be pondered in future research. It will be of interest to advanced undergraduates and graduate students studying astronomy, in addition to the general public. Key Features Presents an entertaining and accessible approach whilst also providing a rigorous and comprehensive presentation of the subject Describes how to unveil the ages of stellar populations in distant galaxies that we cannot resolve into individual stars Contains historical notes about these techniques, outstanding major problems, and a discussion on future developments in the field"-- Provided by publisher.