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

我们正在进入太阳和恒星研究的黄金时代，特别是由于新的卫星观测，其质量和范围都是前所未有的。这些数据使我们有可能利用星震学来研究大量的恒星，即通过观察和分析恒星的内在振荡来研究恒星。我们对恒星(包括太阳)的理解中的重大不确定性直接影响到更广泛的天文学领域，例如，校准星系外尺度上的距离，确定最古老的恒星群的年龄(这对宇宙学施加了严格的限制)，以及追踪星系的化学演化。对恒星的最先进研究对于全面了解系外行星系统的形成和演化也是至关重要的，从星震学对恒星作出的推论允许对系外行星的性质(例如大小、宜居带中的位置、年龄等)施加直接限制。对磁场活动和可变性的星震研究，提供了恒星烧结如何与其当地环境作用的信息(对行星宜居性具有明显的影响)。恒星是宇宙可见的组成部分，离我们最近的恒星太阳对地球上的生命至关重要。负责太阳活动及其变异性的内部机制位于从太阳到地球的链条的一端。人们对太阳的可变性仍然知之甚少。太阳还扮演着恒星结构和恒星演化理论不同领域的基本校准器和参照物的角色。因此，阐明它的结构和动力学的细节是关键，不仅在理解太阳的背景下，而且在其他恒星的背景下。这个研究项目是伯明翰大学(UOB)地震学小组和伦敦大学玛丽女王(QMUL)共同努力的结果。它汇集了UOB和QMUL在小行星地震学和日震学方面的世界领先专业知识，以及太阳和太阳型恒星、红巨星和大质量主序恒星的观测、数据分析和建模项目。该计划将利用NASA开普勒任务和法国领导的CoRoT卫星对太阳型恒星、红巨星和大质量主序恒星的最先进的小行星观测。在对太阳的研究中，大华大学将继续运行伯明翰太阳振荡网络(BISON)，收集世界领先的穿透太阳核心的模式数据。我们的研究计划将开发和应用新的方法来估计准确和精确的恒星特性，并绘制恒星的内部结构和动力学图。我们还将提供我们的恒星太阳核心迄今最清晰的照片；并确定太阳最近的不寻常活动行为是否在其可见表面留下了任何重大的、长期的变化或“伤痕”。

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.