stellar interiors

Asteroseismology

Using stellar oscillations as probes of internal structure, evolution, rotation, and age.

The basic idea

Asteroseismology treats stars as resonant physical systems. Tiny, periodic changes in brightness or velocity encode information about the sound-speed profile, mean density, rotation, and evolutionary state of a star. That makes stellar oscillations a way to measure properties that are otherwise hidden below the photosphere.

Current emphasis

My current interests include extracting reliable frequencies from space-based photometry, connecting observed modes to stellar models, and using oscillations to improve the characterization of bright stars.

Why it matters

Asteroseismic ages and radii are useful well beyond stellar physics. They help calibrate stellar evolution, support exoplanet characterization, and turn nearby bright stars into benchmarks for future missions and instruments.