Principles of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis

The fields of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis comprise one of the most vital and intriguing areas of modern sceintific research. The recent build-up in the space exploration program has been accompanied by a new surge of interest in the physics of natural phenomena. Since stars are the most common element in the universe, much of our knowledge is moderated by our concepts of their structure and evolution, and the synthesis of elements from which they are formed. This is the first text to present the basic physical principles of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. The book provides a clear statement of the ideas which dominate modern research in the hope that it will attract more students into this exciting field. By concentrating on the physical principles, the author has attempted to clarify the theoretical ideas which will prove valuable in a wide variety of future problems. (Author)