Star Formation, Galaxies and the Interstellar Medium

Starbursts or spectacular star-forming events are seen on large scales in some galaxies, often triggered by galactic interactions. An intriguing implication of starburst research is that active galactic nuclei (AGN) may not be powered by accreting black holes. Instead theories are presented where compact powerhouses of dust-enshrouded star formation lie at the core of AGN, with supernovae exploding roughly once per year within massive nuclear concentrations of gas. This book comprises a thorough review of the most important developments in galactic-scale star formation since the starburst revolution of the late 1980s.