The Interstellar Medium in Galaxies

This collection of seven reviews covers the following constituents of the interstellar medium: dust, molecular gas, neutral atomic hydrogen, ionized hydrogen, and hot gas, the abundances of heavy elements in the interstellar medium and the role of star formation. The reviews provide a good background in these subjects, describe in detail advances in the area and discuss the current problems in the field. The properties of the different constituents of the interstellar medium are discussed within the perspective of the difference in properties of the parent galaxies and the environment. The interplay between star formation and the characteristics of the interstellar medium is also discussed in detail. This volume provides up-to-date material on the subject of the interstellar medium in galaxies and should be useful both as a basic reference for professional scientists in this field and as an introductory book for astronomers who want to familiarize themselves with the subject. This volume can also serve as an accompanying text book for graduate courses on the interstellar medium.