Nuclear astrophysics is the study of how all naturally occurring elements formed and evolved into our present universe via nuclear processes, beginning with the Big Bang and continuing today in astrophysical objects such as stars, x-ray bursters, and supernovae. Emerging from traditional studies in astrophysics and particle research, this cross-disciplinary field touches upon astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics.

In An Introduction to Nuclear Astrophysics, author Richard Boyd includes basic nomenclature and information so that students from astronomy or physics can quickly orient themselves in the material. Subsequent chapters describe earthbound and space born instruments operating in service to nuclear astrophysics worldwide; background topics such as nuclear and neutrino physics, scattering formalism, and thermonuclear reaction rates; and information on galactic chemical evolution, solar nucleosynthesis, s- and r-processes, and gamma-ray bursts. Each chapter includes problem sets  against which students may test their knowledge before moving ahead, and the author has included copious references intended to guide students to further study.

An Introduction to Nuclear Astrophysics is an essential textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in astronomy and astrophysics.  It is also an invaluable overview of the subject for researchers in nuclear astrophysics and related fields.  

Richard N. Boyd is science director at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California.

“Nuclear astrophysics is the exciting symbiosis of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and astronomy. Richard N. Boyd succeeds in capturing the ever-growing fascination and breadth of the field in this monograph, which will serve as both a comprehensive introductory text for students and a valuable collection of reference material for teachers.”

“Richard Boyd’s Introduction to Nuclear Astrophysics is sure to become a standard resource, both for the student and professional alike. This highly engaging and readable work provides the most thorough and up-to-date coverage of the subject yet, and includes excellent problem sets at the end of each chapter, perfectly suited to graduate-level students.”

“Richard Boyd’s comprehensive and well-written book on nuclear astrophysics covers a broad range of topics, including nuclear physics, astrophysics, stellar evolution, and nucleosynthesis. I would recommend this text to both students—I would certainly use it in my graduate course—and researchers alike.”

"Intended as a resource for undergraduates taking astrophysics courses, this well-written book . . . will be appreciated by many others for its comprehensive and very readable survey of nusleosynthesis. . . . Physics students wishing to learn something of nucleosynthesis will find the astronomy and instrumentation chapters very useful, and astronomy students will appreciate the nuclear physics overview. . . . Undergraduate students will find it a lucid work regardless of their background. Graduate students and researchers will want it on their professional bookshelves as a valuable reference source. Very good bibliography, excellent illustrations, and clear exposition."