Book on astrophysics released

PUNE: With the launch of the third and last volume of Theoretical Astrophysics, penned by city-based astrophysicist Thanu Padmanabhan and published by the Cambridge University Press in Cambridge on Tuesday, researchers of the subject may finally have a reason to celebrate.
According to Padmanabhan, dean, core academic programme, Pune''s Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), "The three volumes provide researchers with a comprehensive, in-depth coverage of all aspects of theoretical astrophysics."
Interestingly, the seeds for the book project were sown when Padmanabhan lamented to noted astrophysicist Jerry Ostriker of Princeton University, over dinner in late 1994, that there did not exist a comprehensive text on theoretical astrophysics.It was Ostriker who encouraged Padmanabhan to write the books himself.
The task was not easy, considering Padmanabhan''s busy schedule at the IUCAA and his lecture assignments across the globe. However, with a two-hour-a-day regimen, Padmanabhan managed to complete the first volume in five years.
The first volume covered the application of physics in astrophysics, the second dealt with stellar physics (physics related to the stars) and the most recent volume relates to cosmology and extra galactic astronomy.
According to Padmanabhan, the books are specifically aimed at masters students who are keen to pursue research in astronomy. "The books have been designed as self-study manuals, with answers to all problems provided in the book itself," he says.
Padmanabhan has come in for praise from international reviewers. Writing about the first volume, Alan Heavens of the scientific journal The Observatory says, "Subjects as diverse as general relativity and thermonuclear reactions have been written with exceptional clarity. To do this while still providing a book that is understandable and illuminating is a considerable achievement."
Incidentally, Padmanabhan was assisted by his astrophysicist wife, Vasanthi, in formatting the books, producing the figures and often writing the programmes herself.
For the future, Padmanabhan is contemplating an online version and is hoping to establish an Indian team for this. Presently, each volume of the Cambridge paperback is priced at Rs 2,500.