Solar Oscillations

TL;DR

Solar oscillations have been extensively studied through observations and simulations, greatly advancing helioseismology, but challenges remain in understanding deep solar interior processes and magnetic field interactions.

Contribution

This paper reviews recent observational and theoretical advances in solar oscillations, highlighting progress and unresolved issues in helioseismology.

Findings

High-resolution data from SOHO, GONG, BiSON, and Hinode have enriched oscillation spectrum analysis.

Helioseismology provides insights into internal solar structure and flows.

Current limitations hinder detailed understanding of the solar dynamo and sunspot magnetic interactions.

Abstract

In recent years solar oscillations have been studied in great detail, both observationally and theoretically; so, perhaps, the Sun currently is the best understood pulsating star. The observational studies include long, almost uninterrupted series of oscillation data from the SOHO spacecraft and ground-based networks, GONG and BiSON, and more recently, extremely high-resolution observations from the Hinode mission. These observational data cover the whole oscillation spectrum, and have been extensively used for helioseismology studies, providing frequencies and travel times for diagnostics of the internal stratification, differential rotation, zonal and meridional flows, subsurface convection and sunspots. Together with realistic numerical simulations they lead to better understanding of the excitation mechanism and interactions of the oscillations with turbulence and magnetic fields. However, many problems remain unsolved. In particular, the precision of the helioseismology measurements is still insufficient for detecting the dynamo zone and deep routes of sunspots. Our knowledge of the oscillation physics in strong magnetic field regions is inadequate for interpretation of MHD waves in sunspots and for sunspot seismology. A new significant progress in studying the solar oscillations is expected from the Solar Dynamics Observatory scheduled for launch in 2010.