The Origin and Evolution of Galaxies: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute Held at Erice, Italy, May 11-23, 1981. Viith Course of the InternatPaperback - 1983, 31 December 1982
The Origin and Evolution of Galaxies is the outstanding problem of
modern cosmology. Fortunately. we have a firm cosmological framework on
which to base our theories (the hot big bang) and recently there has
been substantial progress in providing observations which potentially
can constrain these theories. The problem of galaxy formation is. as a
consequence. one involving many diverse branches of physics and
astrophysics. It has been the aim of the school. and this compendium of
lectures and seminars. to bring together these diverse aspects at a
level enabling research workers to understand what is going on in other
corners of the subject and to see how progress in each area impinges on
the others. We are grateful to the contributors to this volume for
allowing us considerable editorial license with their articles. We have
attempted to provide a representative sample of the talks that were
given at the school besides the texts of the invited lecturers. It is
regrettable that for reasons of space we have had to leave out a number
of other contributions.