Asteroseismology is the study of oscillations in stars. It allows us to probe the interior of stars and measure their properties such as size, mass, age, composition and rotational velocity. Asteroseismology has revolutionised our understanding of stellar evolution and has played a crucial role in confirming the existence of exoplanets.
The first asteroseismological studies were conducted on the Sun. Solar oscillations were first observed in 1834 by Robert Hanbury Brown and Richard Twiss using a telescope at Kew Observatory in London. These oscillations are caused by sound waves propagating through the Sun’s interior. The frequencies of these oscillations depend on the properties of the solar interior, such as temperature, density and pressure. By studying these frequencies, astronomers can infer the structure of the Sun’s interior.
Asteroseismology has since been applied to many other types of stars. Oscillations have been observed in white dwarf stars, neutron stars and even black holes! The techniques used to observe and analyse stellar oscillations are constantly being improved, allowing us to probe ever more deeply into the lives of stars.