Matching stellar models to oscillation data

Abstract

We describe a method to match stellar models to a set of low-l p-mode oscillation frequencies. The method provides a quality of fit measure similar to that obtained from a [subscript X][superscript 2] fit. With a sufficiently dense grid of stellar models, the method can determine the best-fitting model to the oscillation data as constrained solely by the oscillation data. That is to say, the method can be used to constrain the mass, age, composition, surface temperature, and luminosity of a star from the oscillation data. We evaluate the method on solar data and apply the method to the recently observed oscillation data for [alpha] Cen and [alpha] UMa.