Giora Shaviv Knihy

The structure of stars, particularly the Sun, has been a focal point of scientific research and debate for over a century. The advent of quantum theory in the early nineteenth century laid the groundwork for understanding stellar formation and energy sources. Significant progress was achieved through discussions among leading scientists and groundbreaking discoveries by astronomers. This book delves into the development of the theory of stellar structure and evolution, illustrating how our comprehension of stars has evolved amid continuous debate. Astrophysics took nearly a century to address key questions: What fuels stars? How are they formed? How do they evolve and ultimately perish? The answers to these inquiries have significant implications for astrophysics, physics, and biology, shedding light on our own existence. While many answers are known, the theory of stellar structure remains incomplete, with numerous unresolved questions, such as the mechanisms behind supernova explosions and various internal hydrodynamic processes. Nevertheless, a broad understanding can be outlined, which is the aim of this exploration.

The structure of the stars, particularly the Sun, has been a focal point of scientific research and debate for over a century. The advent of quantum theory in the early nineteenth century laid the groundwork for understanding stellar formation and energy sources. Progress in stellar structure theory emerged from extensive discussions among leading scientists and significant discoveries by astronomers. This exploration reveals how our comprehension of stars has developed through ongoing debate. It took nearly a hundred years for astrophysics to address key questions: What fuels the stars? How are they formed? How do they evolve and ultimately perish? The answers have significant implications across astrophysics, physics, and biology, influencing our understanding of existence itself. While many answers are known, the theory of stellar structure remains incomplete, with numerous unresolved questions, such as the mechanisms behind supernova explosions and various internal hydrodynamic processes. Nevertheless, overarching concepts can be outlined, which we aim to explore in this work.

This book describes the origins and evolution of the chemical elements we and the cosmos are made of. The story starts with the discovery of the common elements on Earth and their subsequent discovery in space. How do we learn the composition of the distant stars? How did progress in quantum theory, nuclear physics, spectroscopy, stellar structure and evolution, together with observations of stars, converge to provide an incredibly detailed picture of the universe? How does research in the micro-world explain the macro-world? How does progress in one affect the other, or lack of knowledge in one inhibit progress in the other? In short, Shaviv describes how we discovered the various pieces of the jigsaw that form our present picture of the universe; and how we sometimes put these in the wrong place before finding in the right one. En route we meet some fascinating personalities and learn about heated controversies. Shaviv shows how science lurched from one dogma to the next, time and again shattering much of what had been considered solid knowledge, until eventually a stable understanding arose. Beginning with generally accepted science, the book ends in today’s terra incognita of nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology. A monumental work that will fascinate scientists, philosophers, historians and lay readers alike.