Multimessenger Astronomy in Practice
Book 2
Contributions by Associate Professor Sebastian Gurovich, Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, Professor Thomas Jarrett, Dr Michelle Cluver, Professor Denis Leahy, Dr Pierre Maggi, Associate Professor Gavin Rowell, Dr Clancy James, Dr Paul Lasky, Professor Csaba Balazs, Professor Milan Cirkovic, Associate Professor Branislav Vukotic, Professor Ray Norris Edited by Professor Miroslav Filipovic, Dr Nicholas Tothill
Publication date:
30 December 2021Length of book:
538 pagesPublisher
Institute Of Physics PublishingDimensions:
254x178mm7x10"
ISBN-13: 9780750323420
The first non-electromagnetic messengers from space were discovered in the early 20th century, but it is only now that multimessenger astronomy is coming into its own. The aim of Multimessenger Astronomy in Practice is to aid an astronomer who is new to research in a particular area of multimessenger astronomy. Covering electromatic radiation from radio through to gamma-rays, and moving on to neutrino, cosmic-ray and gravitational wave astronomy, it gives the reader an overview of the celestial objects detected in each region, the unique methods used to measure them, as well as the principles and methods of data collection, calibration, reduction and analysis. Further chapters cover dark matter, the multimessenger search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), and data science with machine learning. The book will help educate astronomy students taking a multimessenger approach, and add to the knowledge of professional astronomers about what is available in today’s multimessenger toolbox.
Key Features
- Prepares astronomers new to research in a particular area of multimessenger astronomy
- Covers modern astrophysics across the electromatic spectrum from radio through to gamma-rays, as well as neutrino, cosmic-ray and gravitational wave astronomy
- Details the celestial objects detected in each region, the detection methods used, and the principles and methods of data collection, calibration, reduction and analysis
- Includes chapters on dark matter, the multimessenger search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), and data science with machine learning
The second book, entitled Multimessenger Astronomy in Practice, is a comprehensive textbook which covers all of the individual divisions of astronomy outlined in the first book, plus a couple of extra sections. It has an unusual format, in that most of the chapters are multiauthored, and the total number of authors contributing to the book is 16. This is not entirely surprising, given the scope of the material and the effort required to explain the wide range of subject matter, but it does give the volume an aspect of a conference proceedings, or perhaps a set of review articles. I would see this volume as a handbook for a new graduate student preparing to carry out research in astronomy. Each chapter has an extended list of references to published papers which make sense in that context.
John Beckman, The Observatory, February 2023