Asteroseismic Data Analysis: Foundations and Techniques

Description

Studies of stars and stellar populations, and the discovery and characterization of exoplanets, are being revolutionized by new satellite and telescope observations of unprecedented quality and scope. Some of the most significant advances have been in the field of asteroseismology, the study of stars by observation of their oscillations. Asteroseismic Data Analysis gives a comprehensive technical introduction to this discipline. This book not only helps students and researchers learn about asteroseismology; it also serves as an essential instruction manual for those entering the field. The book presents readers with the foundational techniques used in the analysis and interpretation of asteroseismic data on cool stars that show solar-like oscillations. The techniques have been refined, and in some cases developed, to analyze asteroseismic data collected by the NASA Kepler mission. Topics range from the analysis of time-series observations to extract seismic data for stars to the use of those data to determine global and internal properties of the stars. Reading lists and problem sets are provided, and data necessary for the problem sets are available online. The first book to describe in detail the different techniques used to analyze the data on stellar oscillations, Asteroseismic Data Analysis offers an invaluable window into the hearts of stars. * Introduces the asteroseismic study of stars and the theory of stellar oscillations* Describes the analysis of observational (time-domain) data* Examines how seismic parameters are extracted from observations* Explores how stellar properties are determined from seismic data* Looks at the "inverse problem," where frequencies are used to infer internal structures of stars

Sarbani Basu is a professor in the Department of Astronomy at Yale University. William J. Chaplin is a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham. He is the author of The Music of the Sun: The Story of Helioseismology.

"Asteroseismology is a new, essential part of the stellar astronomy toolkit. Areas such as exoplanetary systems and galactic archaeology often employ asteroseismic analysis alongside traditional methods. This book is a comprehensive `how-to' for working with asteroseismic data-appropriate for all those who want to try asteroseismology for themselves."-Steve Kawaler, Iowa State University "The study of stellar properties using asteroseismology, based on observations of stellar oscillations, has exploded over the past decade thanks to a flood of space-based data. In this book, Basu and Chaplin provide a comprehensive and pedagogical overview of the field, emphasizing the required techniques. This is a valuable resource and a good introduction for those new to this revolution in stellar astrophysics."-Jorgen Christensen-Dalsgaard, Aarhus University "This excellent book represents a milestone in the study of stellar physics. Encyclopedic in scope and approachable to readers who may know little of the subject, Asteroseismic Data Analysis fills a genuine need."-David Soderblom, Space Telescope Science Institute "The data from the Kepler mission have completely transformed the field of asteroseismology. With extensive coverage, Asteroseismic Data Analysis presents a thorough and systematic treatment of the topic. The great strength of this book is that it uses Kepler data to illustrate many of the techniques."-Tim Bedding, University of Sydney