Seismo Lab Seminar

Like the Earth, planets and stars pulsate in various global oscillation modes, and these modes can be used as seismic probes of their internal structures. I will discuss the current state of stellar asteroseismology, the recent advent of Saturn ring seismology, and how these fields differ from terrestrial seismology. In stars, we can typically only observe low angular order pulsations, which can be either pressure modes or buoyancy-restored oscillations known as gravity modes. These have allowed for precise measurements of stellar masses, radii, internal structures, rotation rates, and even magnetic fields. In the Saturn system, we can detect planetary oscillations through their effect on the planet's rings. This has enabled the inference of a "fuzzy" core, contributing to a paradigm shift in our understanding of giant planets.