Summarizes state of the art observations and theories pertaining to astrophysical masers and their environments, for graduate students and researchers.

Astrophysical masers, naturally occurring microwave and radio-wave emissions, provide an important tool to investigate astrophysical environments. Several thousand maser sources have been observed in the interstellar medium and star formation regions, in the expanding winds from evolved stars, in the compressed shells of supernovae remnants, in comets and in the centers of galaxies. Masers are also useful for studying the structure and dynamics of our own galaxy, while masers in other galaxies are now used for cosmological studies and studies of galactic nuclei. This volume contains the latest research on the topic as presented at IAU Symposium 242, only the third international symposium on astrophysical masers. Over 125 astronomers from 18 different countries gathered in Alice Spring, Australia, for discussions on maser research.

Ideal for advanced students, this comprehensive overview of molecular astrophysics bridges physics, astronomy, and physical chemistry.

One of the most spectacular discoveries of molecular astronomy has been the detection of maser emission. The same radiation that is generated in the laboratory only with elaborate, special equipment occurs naturally in interstellar space. This intense radiation probes the smallest structures that can be studied with radio telescopes. By a fortunate coincidence maser radiation is generated in both star forming regions and the envelopes of late-type stars. The early and late stages in the life of a star are considered to be the most interesting phases of stellar evolution. Maser emission has also been detected in external galaxies. This book provides an extensive coverage of the interstellar maser phenomenon. A precondition for maser action is departure from thermal equilibrium. The book therefore starts with a detailed coverage of the basic background concepts required for an understanding of line formation and radiative transfer. It goes on to describe the theoretical and phenomenological aspects of interstellar masers, their formation sites and the inversion mechanisms. The book will interest active researchers in astronomy and astrophysics as well as in other areas of physics. It is suitable as a textbook in a graduate course and will enable a graduate student to embark on research projects in this exciting area in particular, and molecular radio astronomy in general.

Black holes lie at the heart of some of the most fascinating astrophysical phenomena. IAU symposium 324 marked the 100th anniversary of Schwarzchild's solution of Einstein's field equations predicting the existence of black holes. Our understanding of black holes has come an impressively long way since then, with the last major discovery being coalescing black holes producing gravitational waves, also predicted in 1916. In this volume, observational and theoretical experts discuss the current state-of-the-art in the astrophysics of black hole systems and their exploitation in testing fundamental theories of physics. Topics span a wide range and include: a historical review, the similarity and diversty of black hole systems, gamma ray bursts, tidal disruption events, active galactic nuclei, black hole systems as multi-messeger sources, and the opening of new observational horizons.

The Transactions XXVIIA Reports on Astronomy 2006-2009 provides a comprehensive and authoritative review of what has been achieved in astronomy during the years 2006 to 2009. These insightful and up-to-date reviews have been written by the presidents and chairpersons of the IAU scientific bodies: the Divisions, the Commissions, and the Working Groups. Topics covered in this wide-ranging volume include: fundamental astronomy; the Sun and heliosphere; planetary sciences; stars; variable stars; interstellar matter; the Galactic system; galaxies and the Universe; optical and infrared techniques; radio astronomy; space and high-energy astrophysics; and other IAU activities. The reviews have been written at a level suitable for colleagues in the same fields, but will also be useful for students and researchers wishing to gain an overview of astronomical fields beyond their own research area.

New telescopes spanning the full electromagnetic spectrum have enabled the study of supernovae (SNe) and supernova remnants (SNRs) to advance at a breathtaking pace. Automated synoptic surveys have increased the detection rate of supernovae by more than an order of magnitude and have led to the discovery of highly unusual supernovae. Observations of gamma-ray emission from SNRs with ground-based Cherenkov telescopes and the Fermi telescope have spawned new insights into particle acceleration in supernova shocks. Far-infrared observations from the Spitzer and Herschel observatories have told us much about the properties and fate of dust grains in SNe and SNRs. Work with satellite-borne Chandra and XMM-Newton telescopes and ground-based radio and optical telescopes reveal signatures of supernova interaction with their surrounding medium, their progenitor life history and of the ecosystems of their host galaxies. IAU Symposium 296 covers all these advances, focusing on the interactions of supernovae with their environments.

IAU Symposium 271 enhances our understanding of some of the important dynamical processes that are ubiquitous in many objects in the Universe, from stars like our Sun to galaxies. A wide range of temporal and spatial scales are generally present, so instabilities, highly nonlinear states and turbulence play a central role. Today, understanding the behaviour and evolution of such systems requires high-accuracy, multi-scale observations and thoughtful analysis of the data gathered, coupled with detailed theoretical study. High-performance numerical simulations have become an essential and revealing tool for assessing the often subtle highly nonlinear regime of such models. In IAU S271 world experts share their knowledge and perspectives on the latest advances in studying the common underlying processes from the field of nonlinear astrophysical dynamics. The symposium also celebrates the long and illustrious career of Professor Juri Toomre and his achievements in many realms of astrophysical dynamics.

The advances in solar, planetary, and extrasolar science employing polarimetric tools are far-reaching, and the pace of discovery is accelerating rapidly. In the last three decades, the emphasis of solar polarimetry has been to achieve simultaneously high spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution for all four Stokes parameters. In the field of stellar polarimetry the developments have been equally impressive, in allowing the detection and surface mapping of magnetic fields across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. This volume, arising from IAU Symposium 305, is devoted to sharing advances in science, data analysis, modeling, and instrumentation between solar and non-solar polarimetry communities. Given the relevance of polarimetric measurements to many aspects of astrophysics, the techniques and physical interpretations addressed within the book will be of interest to a wide audience of researchers and advanced students, in addition to those from solar and stellar communities.

IAU S263 provides a state-of-the-art review of icy bodies in the Solar System, emphasizing their importance across many disciplines.