Global Seismology of the Sun

TL;DR

This paper reviews the techniques and findings of global helioseismology, highlighting how seismic data reveal the Sun's internal structure, dynamics, and activity-related changes, and discusses advances in asteroseismology of other stars.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of global helioseismology methods and recent progress in understanding stellar interiors and dynamics, including asteroseismology.

Findings

Detailed knowledge of the Sun's internal structure

Insights into solar activity cycles

Progress in seismic studies of other stars

Abstract

The seismic study of the Sun and other stars offers a unique window into the interior of these stars. Thanks to helioseismology, we know the structure of the Sun to admirable precision. In fact, our knowledge is good enough to use the Sun as a laboratory. We have also been able to study the dynamics of the Sun in great detail. Helioseismic data also allow us to probe the changes that take place in the Sun as solar activity waxes and wanes. The seismic study of stars other than the Sun is a fairly new endeavour, but we are making great strides in this field. In this review I discuss some of the techniques used in helioseismic analyses and the results obtained using those techniques. In this review I focus on results obtained with global helioseismology, i.e., the study of the Sun using its normal modes of oscillation. I also briefly touch upon asteroseismology, the seismic study of stars other than the Sun, and discuss how seismic data of others stars are interpreted.