Astrophysics of the diffuse universe

The book is designed as an astrophysics textbook to provide a comprehensive introduction to the physics of Interstellar Matter. It is aimed primarily at those undertaking postgraduate courses, or those doing advanced projects as part of honours undergraduate courses in physics or astrophysics. It should also provide a handy reference to the field for astrophysics faculty and other researchers who are not necessarily experts in this particular subdiscipline. The objective of the book is to show how physics can be applied to the understanding and diagnosis of the phase structure, the physical conditions and the chemical make-up and evolution of the interstellar medium. Based on the authors' lecture course experience, here a systematic approach has been adopted to assist the development of the reader's insight into the physics underlying the subject.