Choudhuri A. Astrophysics For Physicists 2010

Textbook in PDF format

Designed for teaching astrophysics to physics students at advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level, this textbook also provides an overview of astrophysics for astrophysics graduate students, before they delve into more specialized volumes. Assuming background knowledge at the level of a physics major, the textbook develops astrophysics from the basics without requiring any previous study in astronomy or astrophysics. Physical concepts, mathematical derivations and observational data are combined in a balanced way to provide a unified treatment. Topics such as general relativity and plasma physics, which are not usually covered in physics courses but used extensively in astrophysics, are developed from first principles. While the emphasis is on developing the fundamentals thoroughly, recent important discoveries are highlighted at every stage.
Introduction
Interaction of radiation with matter
Stellar astrophysics I: Basic theoretical ideas and observational data
Stellar astrophysics II: Nucleosynthesis and other advanced topics
End states of stellar collapse
Our Galaxy and its interstellar matter
Elements of stellar dynamics
Elements of plasma astrophysicsExtragalactic astronomy
The spacetime dynamics of the Universe
The thermal history of the Universe
Elements of tensors and general relativitySome applications of general relativity
Relativistic cosmology
Values of various quantities
Astrophysics and the Nobel Prize
Suggestions for further reading