Fully updated and revised second edition reference on classical novae for researchers and graduate students.

A comprehensive, up-to-date description of the properties and mechanisms of classical novae--and the first such effort in the subject since Payne-Gaposchkin's influential (but out of date) The Galactic Novae. Contributors present a balanced mix of observation and theory, and discuss information gathered at optical, radio, infrared, ultraviolet, and x-ray wavelengths. Discussion begins with an overview of the general properties of novae, then covers the accretion process in nova systems and the physics of the nova outburst. Classical novae are then placed in the broader family of cataclysmic variables. Final chapter is devoted to data on novae, including an atlas.

This international conference brought together over 50 astronomers from around the world. The meeting centred around a single object, the reccurent nova RS Ophiuchi, a star which had undergone four recorded outbursts before the latest event in 1985. Observations of previous outbursts (discussed in detail in one of the review talks) already indicated that RS Ophiuchi is a unique object of great astronomical significance. The outburst mechanism is probably similar to that of classical novae, but the interaction of the ejecta with a pre-existing shell of material give it the characteristics of a young supernova remnant. However, unlike supernova remnants, the evolution occurs 'before our very eyes'. Following the latest outburst, a frenzy of activity ensued, resulting in the acquisition of detailed observations from the radio (where rapidly expanding jets were discovered) to the X-ray (where RS Ophiuchi turned out to be one of the brightest soft X-ray sources yet observed). The Proceedings report the many exciting and unexpected observational results right across the electromagnetic spectrum in both RS Ophiuchi and related objects. Theoretical work on the cause of the outburst, and remnant evolution is also given prominence. The result is a much fuller understanding of RS Ophiuchi and its important standing in several branches of astrophysical research.

The book reviews our current knowledge about Classical Nova Explosions, including all the recent advances from both theoretical and observational points of view. The volume covers a large number of topics, such as the astrophysical scenario, the explosion mechanism (including recent multidimensional approaches), light curves and spectra, and observations based on ground and space facilities, covering all wavelength ranges from radio and infrared to X and gamma-rays. Topics include: novae, cataclysmic variables, nucleosynthesis, white dwarfs, observations (optical, IR, radio, UV, x-rays, gamma-rays).

Michael Friedjung Though known since antiquity, novae are still poorly under stood and present many problems. There has tended to be a lack of communication between theoreticians and observers and between different schools of thought, in spite of the advances of recent years in certain directions (observations of ordinary novae at minimum and of dwarf novae, theory of the causes of the explosion, etc ••• ). The meeting whose proceedings are contained in this volume was organized to stimulate a confron tation between the different ideas and results. The subject has changed a lot since 1963, when the previous international meeting was held. There were 61 participants at the conference from 17 countries, so very many groups ~oing research in the field of novae were represented. The reader will see that the subject has become more physical (we know for instance that the binary nature of novae is essential) but much work remains to be done. There is still a large gulf between theory and observation. May he find here many new ideas for future research! I would like to thank the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique for providing financial help. I must also thank the other members of the scientific committee (Profs and Drs Bath, Mustel, Payne-Gaposchkin, Sparks and Warner) and of the local committee (Audouze, Mrs Steinberg, Vauclair).

This book surveys our understanding of stars which change in brightness because they pulsate. Pulsating variable stars are keys to distance scales inside and beyond the Milky Way galaxy. They test our understanding not only of stellar pulsation theory but also of stellar structure and evolution theory. Moreover, pulsating stars are important probes of the formation and evolution of our own and neighboring galaxies. Our understanding of pulsating stars has greatly increased in recent years as large-scale surveys of pulsating stars in the Milky Way and other Local Group galaxies have provided a wealth of new observations and as space-based instruments have studied particular pulsating stars in unprecedented detail.

Dealing with astrophysics derived from the radiation emitted by radioactive atomic nuclei, this book describes the different methods used to measure cosmic radio-isotopes. It demonstrates how this astronomical window has contributed to the understanding of the sources and the chemical evolution of cosmic gas. Reference materials and explanations are included for students in advanced stages of their education. Nuclear reactions in different sites across the universe lead to the production of stable and unstable nuclei. Their abundances can be measured through different methods, allowing to study the various nuclear processes taking place in cosmic environments. Nucleosynthesis is the cosmic formation of new nuclear species, starting from hydrogen and helium resulting from the big bang origins. Stars create and eject synthesized nuclei during their evolution and explosions. Incorporation of the new interstellar composition into next-generation stars characterises the compositional (chemical) evolution of cosmic gas in and between galaxies. Radioactive species have unique messages about how this occurs. Since the first Edition of this book published in 2011 with the title Astronomy with Radioactivities, long-awaited new direct observations of supernova radioactivity have been made and are now addressed in two updated chapters dealing with supernovae. In this second Edition, the advances of recent years beyond one-dimensional treatments of stellar structure and stellar explosions towards 3-dimensional models have been included, and led to significant re-writings in Chapters 3-5. The sections on the Solar System origins have been re-written to account for new insights into the evolution of giant molecular clouds. The chapter on diffuse radioactivities now also includes material measurements of radioactivities in the current solar system, and their interpretations for recent nucleosynthesis activity in our Galaxy. Significant new results on gamma-rays from positron annihilations have been accounted for in that chapter, and led to new links with nucleosynthesis sources as well as interstellar transport processes. A new chapter now provides a description of interstellar processes often called 'chemical evolution', thus linking the creation of new nuclei to their abundance observations in gas and stars. The experimental / instrumental chapters on nuclear reaction measurements, on gamma-ray telescopes, and pre-solar grain laboratories have been updated. Moreover, new windows of astronomy that have been opened up in recent years have been included in the discussions of the multi-messenger approach that broadens the basis for astrophysical insights.