GAFD Seminar: Anne-Marie Broomhall (University of Warwick)

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 at 13:30

Insights into Solar and Stellar Magnetic Fields through Helio- and Astroseismology

Event details

Title: Insights into Solar and Stellar Magnetic Fields through Helio- and Astroseismology

Abstract: Helioseismology uses the Sun's natural resonant oscillations to infer conditions in the solar interior. The dominant oscillations are known as p modes, as the main restoring force is a pressure differential. The frequencies of the oscillations are impacted by magnetic fields in the solar interior and are observed to vary systematically through the solar cycle. With the Kepler mission, we have now been able to observe similar behaviour in the p-mode frequencies of Sun-like stars. In this talk, I will discuss the observation and modelling of these variations. I will also demonstrate that these variations can impact our ability to infer stellar parameters, which could be important in the context of the upcoming PLATO mission. I will also discuss an often-neglected class of oscillations, known as pseudomodes. Unlike the p modes, these pseudomodes are not trapped in solar/stellar interiors but instead propagate out into the atmosphere. However, like the p modes, the frequencies of pseudomodes are impacted by magnetic fields. I will show that the modelling and observation of these variations can lead to novel insights into changes in the solar interior caused by internal magnetic fields.

Organiser

Mathematics and Statistics

Location

Harrison 170