Asteroseismology of Sun-like stars

Abstract

Seismology has become a powerful tool for analysis of the interior of the Sun; it has great potential for the study of oscillations in solar-like stars. Asteroseimology could provide direct information about detailed properties of stellar interiors, bringing the potential for testing theories of stellar evolution and structure. Current stellar models are simple with few direct observational constraints; consequences such as age estimates are uncertain to a factor of two. A recent attempt at asteroseismology on Procyon, a likely candidate star, found no detectable oscillations. In this paper we discuss the asteroseismology of solar-like stars in the context of studies of the Sun and then indicate possible reasons for the Procyon results.