Proposal: P01_07

Sarbani Basu (Yale University)

Sun-like p-mode oscillators

Abstract:

We propose to perform a combined asteroseismic and theoretical study of stellar structure pertaining to the evolution of two of the bright open clusters in the Kepler FOV — NGC 6811 and NGC 6819. We are proposing to observe oscillations of upper-main sequence, subgiant and red-giant-branch stars in these clusters. Even with a limited sample of stars, the constraint that the stars of a given cluster should have the same ages and metallicities helps us constrain other parameters of stellar evolution, such as helium abundance, age and mixing length parameters. This will let us test available sets of isochrones that are used to determine ages of clusters from colour-magnitude diagrams and also to create new sets of isochrones should they be required. Evolutionary tracks and isochrones are the basis of determining ages of clusters, and population synthesis models based on isochrones are the basis of age determination of most external galaxies. This project will therefore provide important inputs to age determinations of different objects in the universe.