IIHE invited seminar: Asteroseismology: the Royal Road towards the Interior Physics of Stars
by
Prof.Aerts Conny(KU Leuven, Radboud University Nijmegen, Max Planck Institute Heidelberg)
→
Europe/Brussels
Probably zoom (IIHE (ULB-VUB))
Probably zoom
IIHE (ULB-VUB)
Description
Abstract: Since the start of the space age in asteroseismology about a decade ago, tremendous progress has been made in the understanding of the physics of stellar interiors. In this talk, we start with an introduction into asteroseismology as a particular branch of mathematical physics for the non-expert. We discuss the diversity in nonradial oscillations of stars and make the link with pressure, gravity, magnetic, and tidal waves. We then emphasize some of the breakthroughs derived from space asteroseismology, focusing mostly on new insights brought by the 4-year light curves assembled with the NASA Kepler space telescope. Examples involve high-precision sizing, weighing, and ageing of stars, asteroseismic input for archaelogical studies of the Milky Way, and the impact of internal rotation and mixing of stars on stellar evolution theory. We end with the potential of tidal asteroseismology and look out for the glorious future of this field for astrophysics, thanks to the ongoing NASA TESS and future ESA PLATO space missions.
