The HEDLA-08 conference was a continuation of a series of biennial conferences first held in Pleasanton, California, in 1996, and focused on progress made during recent years in designing, conducting, and analyzing the results of laboratory experiments, theoretical work, and computer simulations relevant to high-energy density (HED) astrophysics. The astrophysics aspects of HED experiments are extremely diverse and include jets, the mechanism of their generation and interaction with the ambient medium; stellar evolution with a focus on turbulence, hydrodynamic instabilities, and mixing of nuclear species; radiative supersonic flows associated with stellar explosions and jets; radiative processes in plasma; equation of state and material properties; and last but not least magnetized and relativistic plasmas. This volume contains a small but representative subset of 35 peer-reviewed papers presented at the HEDLA-08 meeting.

Advanced numerical simulations that use adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) methods have now become routine in engineering and science. Originally developed for computational fluid dynamics applications these methods have propagated to fields as diverse as astrophysics, climate modeling, combustion, biophysics and many others. The underlying physical models and equations used in these disciplines are rather different, yet algorithmic and implementation issues facing practitioners are often remarkably similar. Unfortunately, there has been little effort to review the advances and outstanding issues of adaptive mesh refinement methods across such a variety of fields. This book attempts to bridge this gap. The book presents a collection of papers by experts in the field of AMR who analyze past advances in the field and evaluate the current state of adaptive mesh refinement methods in scientific computing.

Numerical Methods in Astrophysics: An Introduction outlines various fundamental numerical methods that can solve gravitational dynamics, hydrodynamics, and radiation transport equations. This resource indicates which methods are most suitable for particular problems, demonstrates what the accuracy requirements are in numerical simulations, and suggests ways to test for and reduce the inevitable negative effects.

After an introduction to the basic equations and derivations, the book focuses on practical applications of the numerical methods. It explores hydrodynamic problems in one dimension, "N"-body particle dynamics, smoothed particle hydrodynamics, and stellar structure and evolution. The authors also examine advanced techniques in grid-based hydrodynamics, evaluate the methods for calculating the gravitational forces in an astrophysical system, and discuss specific problems in grid-based methods for radiation transfer. The book incorporates brief user instructions and a CD-ROM of the numerical codes, allowing readers to experiment with the codes to suit their own needs.

With numerous examples and sample problems that cover a wide range of current research topics, this highly practical guide illustrates how to solve key astrophysics problems, providing a clear introduction for graduate and undergraduate students as well as researchers and professionals.