CHAOS AMONG THE STARS?
New Approaches to Variable Stars from Nonlinear Dynamics
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
2015 August 16-19 Sunday-Wednesday
(Just after the IAU General Assembly)
2015 August 16-19 Sunday-Wednesday
(Just after the IAU General Assembly)
Dramatically improved data from observatories like the Kepler spacecraft have recently enabled nonlinear time series analysis and phenomenological modeling of variable stars, including the search for strange (aka fractal) or chaotic dynamics.
Kepler data includes “golden stars” whose luminosities vary quasiperiodically with two frequencies nearly in the golden ratio. Their secondary-frequency scaling resembles the spatial scaling of the rugged Norwegian coast, a signature of strange nonchaotic dynamics. Do all golden stars exhibit Norwegian scaling? More generally, does variable star dynamics exhibit universal or peculiar features?
The CATS conference will forge a synergy between variable star astronomers and nonlinear dynamicists to advance our understanding of variable star dynamics.
Subtopics
Nonlinear dynamicsTime series analysis
Modeling variable stars (ab initio and phenomenological)
Variable star observatories (including Kepler & Pan-Starrs)
Asteroseismology