Sounding the Stars---the Birmingham and Queen Mary Seismology Programme

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We are entering a golden era for studies of the Sun and stars, thanksin particular to new satellite observations of unprecedented qualityand scope. These data are making it possible to investigate largenumbers of stars using asteroseismology, the study of stars byobservation and analysis of their intrinsic oscillations.Significant uncertainties in our understanding of stars (including theSun) have a direct impact on wider areas of astronomy, e.g.,calibration of distances on extra-galactic scales, fixing the ages ofthe oldest stellar populations (which place tight constraints oncosmologies), and tracing the chemical evolution ofgalaxies. State-of-the-art studies of stars are also crucial to acomplete understanding of the formation and evolution of exoplanetarysystems, and inferences made on stars from asteroseismology allowdirect constraints to be placed on exoplanet properties (e.g., sizes,locations in habitable zones, ages etc.). Asteroseismic studies ofmagnetic activity, and variability, provide information on how starsinteract with their local environments (with obvious implications forexoplanet habitability). Stars are the visible building-blocks of theUniverse and the nearest star to us, the Sun, is vital to life onEarth. The internal mechanisms responsible for solar activity, and itsvariability, lie at one end of the chain stretching from the Sun tothe Earth. Variability of the Sun remains poorly understood. The Sunalso plays the role of a fundamental calibrator, and reference, fordifferent areas of stellar structure and stellar evolutiontheory. Hence, elucidating the details of its structure and dynamicsis key, not only in the context of understanding the Sun, but alsoother stars.This programme of research is a joint bid between the seismologygroups at the University of Birmingham (UoB) and Queen Mary,University of London (QMUL). It brings together world-leadingexpertise from UoB and QMUL in asteroseismology and helioseismology,with projects on observation, data analysis and modelling of the Sunand solar-type stars, red giants, and massive main-sequence stars.The programme will make use of state-of-the-art asteroseismicobservations by the NASA Kepler Mission and the French-led CoRoTsatellite, of solar-type stars, red giants and massive main-sequencestars. In studies of the Sun, UoB will continue to run the BirminghamSolar-Oscillations Network (BiSON), collecting world-leading data onmodes that penetrate the solar core.Our programme of research will develop and apply new methods for estimatingaccurate and precise stellar properties, and for mapping the internalstructures and dynamics of the stars. We shall also provide thecleanest picture yet of the core of our own star, the Sun; andestablish whether the recent, unusual activity behaviour of the Sunhas left any significant, long-standing changes, or "scars", beneathits visible surface.