Structure and Evolution of the Sun

This book equips the reader with a coherent understanding of the structure of the Sun and its evolution and provides all the knowledge required to construct a simplified model of the Sun. The early chapters cover key aspects of basic physics and describe the Sun's size, mass, luminosity, and temperature. Using a semi-empirical approach, the structure of the present Sun is then modeled in detail, layer by layer, proceeding from the photosphere to the convection zone, radiation zone, and core. After discussion of helioseismology - the branch of solar physics that studies the resonant oscillations of the Sun - an overview chapter recapitulates the most important information on structure and gives a short account of solar activity. Finally, all stages of the Sun's evolution, from its formation to the end of its life, are carefully explained. The book is primarily intended for university students taking the initial steps in moving from physics to astrophysics. It i ncludes worked exercises and problems to illustrate the concepts discussed, as well as additional problems for independent study. All of the mathematics required to use the book are provided in a helpful appendix.