A technique to determine the best stellar model (mass and age) match to an observed stellar oscillation spectrum

Brown, Kevin I.T.

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dc.contributor.advisor	Guenther, David B.
dc.creator	Brown, Kevin I.T.
dc.date.accessioned	2011-05-09T12:31:25Z
dc.date.available	2011-05-09T12:31:25Z
dc.date.issued	2003
dc.identifier.other	QB812 B76 2003
dc.identifier.uri	http://library2.smu.ca/xmlui/handle/01/22083
dc.description	xiii, 154, [9] leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.
dc.description	Includes abstract.
dc.description	Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-151).
dc.description.abstract	Stellar non-radial oscillations (p-modes) are ideal tools to test theories of stellar evolution and to provide information about stellar properties. This thesis develops and tests a technique to determine the stellar model (which varies in mass and age only) whose pulsation spectrum best matches an observed pulsation spectrum. The best match of observed frequencies to a stellar model yields a mass and age for the observed star. A method of direct comparison is used whereby a set of observed stellar p-modes are compared individually with p-modes calculated from stellar models. A grid of model frequencies calculated from stellar models that vary in mass and age only is required. This grid is the basis of comparison with observed stellar p-mode frequencies. The quality of each comparison between observed frequencies and model spectra is characterized using a chi-squared best fit parameter where a low value denotes a good match. An overall minimum from the comparison of observed frequencies and model spectra identifies the best fit stellar model; therefore predicting mass and age values. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
dc.description.provenance	Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-09T12:31:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0	en
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher	Halifax, N.S. : Saint Mary's University
dc.subject.lcc	QB812
dc.subject.lcsh	Stellar oscillations -- Mathematical models
dc.subject.lcsh	Stars -- Masses -- Mathematical models
dc.subject.lcsh	Stars -- Age -- Mathematical models
dc.subject.lcsh	Astroseismology
dc.title	A technique to determine the best stellar model (mass and age) match to an observed stellar oscillation spectrum
dc.type	Text
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science in Astronomy
thesis.degree.level	Masters
thesis.degree.discipline	Astronomy and Physics
thesis.degree.grantor	Saint Mary's University (Halifax, N.S.)