The present decade is opening new frontiers in high-energy astrophysics. After the X-ray satellites in the 1980's, including Einstein, Tenma, EXOSAT and Ginga, several satellites are, or will soon be, simultaneously in orbit offering spectacular advances in X-ray imaging at low energies (ROSATj Yohkoh) as well as at high energies (GRANAT), in spectroscopy with increased bandwidth (ASCAj SAX), and in timing (XTE). While these satellites allow us to study atomic radiation from hot plasmas or energetic electrons, other satellites study nuclear radiation at gamma-ray energies (CGRO) associated with radioactivity or spallation reactions. These experiments show that the whole universe is emitting radiation at high energies, hence we call it the "hot universe. " The hot universe, preferentially emitting X- and gamma-rays, provides us with many surprises and much information. A symposium "The Hot Universe" was held in conjunction with the XXIIIrd General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, at Kyoto on August 26-30 in 1997. The proceedings are organized as follows. Synthetic view of "the hot universe" is discussed in Section 1, "Plasma and Fresh Nucleosynthesis Phenomena". Timely discussions on the strategy for future missions "Future Space Program" are found in Section 2. Then the contents are divided into two major subjects: the compact objects and thin hot diffuse plasmas. Section 3 is devoted to the category of compact objects which includes white dwarfs, neutron stars, and gravitationally collapsed objects: stellar mass black holes or active galactic nuclei.

Conference proceedings covering the latest technology developments for fossil fuel power plants, including nickel-based alloys for advanced ultrasupercritical power plants, materials for turbines, oxidation and corrosion, welding and weld performance, new alloys concepts, and creep and general topics.

This is a contributed reference work from international authors from both industry and academia. It deals with materials metrology and standards for engineering design. This includes examination of metrological considerations as well as investigating the many measurement and control techniques. It will be of interest to all materials scientists and engineers from graduates to experienced professionals and will be particularly useful to all those involved with measurement instrumentation.

Ceramics are unique products, in a wide variety of forms, with an ever increasing range of applications. Ceramics in Energy Applications contains contributions on material solutions to new and existing applications of interest to energy suppliers and users. The book considers the latest developments in ceramics materials for both high and low temperatures for a wide variety of uses by a wide array of energy technology users. Topics covered include new developments and applications, power generation, energy saving and heat transfer, sensors and catalysts, and evaluation and performance.

Accompanyind CR-ROM conrtains The Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Technology on a web access disc.