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Dust in the Galactic Environment, Third Edition provides a thorough overview of the subject, covering general concepts, methods of investigation, important results and their significance, relevant literature, and some suggestions for promising avenues of future research.
Major advances have been made in the last two decades in our understanding of astrophysical dust. These have been driven by discoveries arising from new observational facilities such as the Spitzer, Planck, and Herschel Space Telescopes, as well as important parallel developments in laboratory studies of cosmic and terrestrial analog materials. This new, expanded edition reviews these developments, summarizes the current state of the field, and considers possibilities for future advances, for example with the James Webb Space Telescope. It includes introductory material for new entrants to the field alongside detailed discussion for more advanced students and researchers.
Key features:
- Timely update to a standard text, including results from Spitzer, Planck and Herschel Space Telescopes
- Highly active and topical area of current research with broad relevance in astrophysics, astrochemistry, and planetary sciences
- Emphasises cosmic dust as a source of planet-building materials and organic molecules
- Written by a renowned expert in the field
Astronomers and astrophysicists who have an interest in interstellar dust are sure to have to hand a copy of Whittet’s Dust in the Galactic Environment, either the first edition (1992) or the second edition (2003). These books have been splendid and reliable guides to the nature and properties of Galactic dust. But as Whittet notes in his Preface “this new edition is in large part a different book”. The book is beautifully produced with extensive use of colour images and diagrams. Each chapter includes extensive references to recent literature. The level of the text is certainly appropriate for advanced undergraduates and for postgraduates; established researchers will also benefit from this book.
David A. Williams, The Observatory, February 2023.
1. Introduction
Brief overview of the nature of cosmic dust and its significance in modern astrophysics
2. The interaction of electromagnetic radiation and small particles
Introduction to the basic theory of absorption and scattering; overview of numerical methods
Polarization of radiation by non-spherical grains; mechanisms of grain alignment
Thermal continuum emission from heated dust; thermal transients in very small grains
3. The observed properties of dust – I: Continuum properties and their applications
The extinction curve and reddening; importance with respect to the cosmic distance scale
Thermal infrared emission; utility as a proxy for molecular hydrogen as a tracer of mass
Polarization of starlight and thermal infrared emission; utility as tracers of magnetic fields
The observed distributions of dust in the Milky Way and other galaxies
Summary of observational constraints on dust properties: size, shape, composition
4. The observed properties of dust – II: Spectral features in the infrared
Vibrational modes in solids
Absorption features in the diffuse ISM: silicates and carbonaceous solids
Absorption features in the dense ISM: ices
Emission features from heated dust: silicates; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
5. The observed properties of dust – III: Element depletions
Abundances of the chemical elements (brief overview)
Observations of interstellar gas-phase abundances and inferred depletions into dust
Discussion of key elements and anomalies; summary of implications
6. The life cycle of dust – I: Dust in stellar ejecta
Overview of the roles of dust in stellar evolution
Stardust: Grain formation in stellar winds; dust in supernovae
Laboratory studies of stardust in meteorites • Evolving stars as sources of interstellar grains
Dust in time: from the early universe to the present day
7. The life cycle of dust – II: Evolution in the interstellar medium
Overview of the role of dust in astrochemistry
Basic theory of surface reactions, molecule formation, mantle growth, grain-grain coagulation
Thermal and radiative processing; grain destruction in shocks
Overview of the role of dust in star and planet formation
8. Conclusion
Overview of models for interstellar dust
Suggestions for future research