Helioseismology at Birmingham and Queen Mary
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Sun is a touchstone for stellar astrophysics. It is an anchor for studies of the internal physics, structure and dynamics of other stars. Understanding what drives the observed changes to its activity and emissions is not only of crucial importance to solar-terrestrial relations, but also has wider relevance to studies of the influence that other stars have on their local environments, with the obvious implications for habitability of detected exoplanets. Prominent among recent solar research have been studies of the current, weak Solar Cycle 24, which has shown low levels of activity that are unprecedented in the era of modern telescope and satellite observations. As we move towards the Cycle 24/25 minimum and into the new cycle, helioseismology has an important role to play in understanding not only the internal drivers for these changes, but also how long-lasting they might be.
We will track the seismic behaviour of the Sun through the decline of the current, weak activity cycle into the next solar minimum, using the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON). We will mine these data and data from other ground-based and space-borne helioseismic instruments, to isolate and extract signatures of structural and dynamic changes in interior. Using our BiSON data we will also have the first ever opportunity to conduct a seismic comparison of one full 22-year Hale cycle with another. We will also utilize resolved-Sun data from satellites and the ground-based GONG network to monitor the development of near-surface flow patterns as we head into Cycle 25, and to study the internal rotation and composition of the solar envelope.
Our other major focus relates to the now well established solar-abundance or solar modelling problem, i.e., the continuing disagreement of the structures of models constructed using updated chemical abundance determinations with the Sun (as determined by helioseismology). We will provide new constraints on the physics of the deep solar interior, in particular on the extent to which astrophysical opacities and non-standard physics might help to resolve the problem, exploiting the leading expertise of our consortium in modelling stellar interiors. This is an example of solar research that has important implications for the wider domain of stellar astrophysics.
We will track the seismic behaviour of the Sun through the decline of the current, weak activity cycle into the next solar minimum, using the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON). We will mine these data and data from other ground-based and space-borne helioseismic instruments, to isolate and extract signatures of structural and dynamic changes in interior. Using our BiSON data we will also have the first ever opportunity to conduct a seismic comparison of one full 22-year Hale cycle with another. We will also utilize resolved-Sun data from satellites and the ground-based GONG network to monitor the development of near-surface flow patterns as we head into Cycle 25, and to study the internal rotation and composition of the solar envelope.
Our other major focus relates to the now well established solar-abundance or solar modelling problem, i.e., the continuing disagreement of the structures of models constructed using updated chemical abundance determinations with the Sun (as determined by helioseismology). We will provide new constraints on the physics of the deep solar interior, in particular on the extent to which astrophysical opacities and non-standard physics might help to resolve the problem, exploiting the leading expertise of our consortium in modelling stellar interiors. This is an example of solar research that has important implications for the wider domain of stellar astrophysics.
Planned Impact
Outreach:
There is an important strand running through our outreach activities, arranged around the theme of collaboration between scientists and artists, with the group's work with sound artist Caroline Devine providing the focus. Professor Chaplin has initiated UK-wide activities to explore the theme of such collaborations, including organising and leading a workshop for practitioners in art-science collaborations.
We will reach the audience of schools and the general public by organised outreach activity, publicity, talks, exhibitions, articles in popular publications, radio and (when possible) television appearances
We shall continue to develop strong links with the media, which have led to several recent appearances in broadcast and print media (e.g., BBC Radio, Guardian, Daily Mail)
We engage regularly in outreach activities (including talks) for schools and astronomical societies (we are on lists of speakers maintained by the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics). These activities will be coordinated with Schools and outreach liaison specialists at UoB and QMUL.
Knowledge exchange:
Our strategy is to remain alert to KE opportunities, using the well-developed knowledge exchange infrastructures at UoB and QMUL. We shall be alert to opportunities for interdisciplinary research opportunities.
We shall provide skilled, well-trained students and PDRAs (with excellent transferable skills) for the academic community and non-academic professional sectors. This includes training of young scientists as part of major international collaborations led by the applicants (i.e., as formally recognised structures within collaborations); and UK-wide training of PhD students (e.g., involvement in lecturing and organising graduate summer schools, including STFC Schools).
There is also knowledge transfer to the astronomy community, i.e., the solar/stellar and exoplanet communities and the wider astronomy community (where our work has relevance in galactic, extra-galactic and cosmology studies). This will be achieved by publications in refereed journals (including high-impact, non-specialist journals like Science, Nature and Publications of the National Academy of Sciences); and seminars and talks to a wide professional audience, including the general astronomical community and the solar and stellar physics communities.
There is an important strand running through our outreach activities, arranged around the theme of collaboration between scientists and artists, with the group's work with sound artist Caroline Devine providing the focus. Professor Chaplin has initiated UK-wide activities to explore the theme of such collaborations, including organising and leading a workshop for practitioners in art-science collaborations.
We will reach the audience of schools and the general public by organised outreach activity, publicity, talks, exhibitions, articles in popular publications, radio and (when possible) television appearances
We shall continue to develop strong links with the media, which have led to several recent appearances in broadcast and print media (e.g., BBC Radio, Guardian, Daily Mail)
We engage regularly in outreach activities (including talks) for schools and astronomical societies (we are on lists of speakers maintained by the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics). These activities will be coordinated with Schools and outreach liaison specialists at UoB and QMUL.
Knowledge exchange:
Our strategy is to remain alert to KE opportunities, using the well-developed knowledge exchange infrastructures at UoB and QMUL. We shall be alert to opportunities for interdisciplinary research opportunities.
We shall provide skilled, well-trained students and PDRAs (with excellent transferable skills) for the academic community and non-academic professional sectors. This includes training of young scientists as part of major international collaborations led by the applicants (i.e., as formally recognised structures within collaborations); and UK-wide training of PhD students (e.g., involvement in lecturing and organising graduate summer schools, including STFC Schools).
There is also knowledge transfer to the astronomy community, i.e., the solar/stellar and exoplanet communities and the wider astronomy community (where our work has relevance in galactic, extra-galactic and cosmology studies). This will be achieved by publications in refereed journals (including high-impact, non-specialist journals like Science, Nature and Publications of the National Academy of Sciences); and seminars and talks to a wide professional audience, including the general astronomical community and the solar and stellar physics communities.
Publications
Avelino P
(2020)
Modelling stochastic signatures in classical pulsators
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Basu S
(2019)
The Sun as a Guide to Stellar Physics
Buldgen G
(2019)
Combining multiple structural inversions to constrain the solar modelling problem
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cegla H
(2018)
Stellar Surface Magneto-convection as a Source of Astrophysical Noise. II. Center-to-limb Parameterization of Absorption Line Profiles and Comparison to Observations
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chaplin W
(2019)
Sensitivity of low-degree solar p modes to active and ephemeral regions: frequency shifts back to the Maunder minimum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Chaplin W
(2019)
Filtering Solar-Like Oscillations for Exoplanet Detection in Radial Velocity Observations
in The Astronomical Journal
Cunha M
(2019)
Asteroseismic constraints on active latitudes of solar-type stars: HD 173701 has active bands at higher latitudes than the Sun
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Chair UKSA Solar Orbiter Programme Management Board |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | UK Space Agency programme management board provides oversight of University teams that are providing instrumentation for the ESA Solar Orbiter Mission |
Description | Chair UKSA Solar Post-Launch Support committee |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Formal oversight for UK Space Agency of University teams that are funded to provide post-launch instrument and operations support for solar space missions |
Description | Chair of UKSA IMAP Advisory Board |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Instrument build, highly skilled workforce |
Description | Member UKSA Space Programme Committee |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Through space industry |
Description | Member of Review Board for the Leibniz Institute for Solar Physics (KIS) |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Member of UKSA Space Programme Advisory Committee |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | SPAC provides advice to the UK Space Agency executive on policy in space science |
Description | (CartographY) - Mapping Stellar Helium |
Amount | € 1,496,203 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 804752 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2024 |
Description | KASC |
Organisation | Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I lead the solar-type part of the collaboration; my team at UoB contribute significantly to KASC-related analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Large international collaboration, coordinating research on asteroseismology with NASA Kepler Mission. I lead the largest part of the consortium, on solar-type stars. The benefits of this large collaboration are multifold, i.e., research papers, development of new analysis techniques, coordinated training of young members of the community etc. My part of collaboration has 170 members from academic institiutes around the world (too many to list here!) |
Impact | Many papers in academic journals (see publications list) |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | SAC |
Organisation | Aarhus University |
Department | Stellar Astrophysics Centre |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SAC is an international center of excellence in stellar astrophysics. We are one of seven international nodes. We contribute as part of this strong international collaboration, i.e., via collaborative research projects, visits and exchanges. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute via collaborative research projects, visits and exchanges. The central node, Aarhus (Denmark) also provide financial support to help with travel (collaborative and to conferences). |
Impact | Numerous papers, meetings, conferences, talks etc. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | SONG |
Organisation | Aarhus University |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | - Contribution to preparation for analysis of data - Hardware contribution, provision of temperature controllers for part of set-up |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on planned network called Stellar Observations Network Group (SONG): |
Impact | Some hardware contribution (see above) |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | TESS Asteroseismic Science Consortium (TASC) |
Organisation | The Alliance of Suicide Prevention Charities |
Country | Global |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | This is the TESS Asteroseismic Science Consortium (TASC), which is overseeing the asteroseismic analysis of TESS data by the international community. Chaplin is a member of the TASC Board and co-leads two of the Working Groups, responsible for characterisation of exoplanet hosts and exploitation of data on solar-type stars. Work conducted to date includes: Helping to set up TASC and establish formal collaboration agreements; providing noise and performance requirements for the TESS Mission leadership; target selection and planning for exploitation of data for asteroseismology; research papers and technical reports |
Collaborator Contribution | TESS Asteroseismic Science Consortium (TASC) |
Impact | Agreements and documentation governing the operation of TASC; target selection and planning for exploitation of data for asteroseismology; research papers and technical reports |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Art-Science Collaboration |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Various art-science exhibits and installations with long-standing art collaborator Caroline Devine. Has included exhibits at museums and ar galleries, supported by grants from the IoP, Art Council England, Leverhulme Trust. Collaborations now also being initiated with other artists, including the dance company Humanhood. Chaplin also conceived, organised and chaired an interdisciplinary workshop on art-science collaboration involving artists and academics from around the UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | International Postgraduate Lecture Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited lecturer at international postgraduate schools Invitation to come back to participate in future schools; positive feedback from delegates |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2012,2016,2017,2018,2021 |
Description | National and international media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviews on national radio and television Excellent publicity for our research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | Newspaper interviews |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Articles covering our research on asteroseismology in the UK and international press Excellent publicity for our research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
Description | Postgraduate Lecture Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited lectures for postgraduates in solar and stellar astrophysics Repeated invites; positive feedback from delegates |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021 |
Description | Talks to Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Regular talks at schools locally and nationally Positive feedback, requests for further invitations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2021,2022,2023 |
Description | Talks to astronomical societies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Regular talks to astronomical societies around the UK Positive feedback, plus invitations for repeat visits |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |