This grant will support a two year theoretical and observational study of solar oscillations. The motivation for these studies is to bring geophysical data analysis techniques, which have been developed for application to terrestrial free oscillation data over the last two decades, to bear on similar problems in the analysis of helioseismic data. The focus will be on four areas which have terrestrial counterparts. These are: (1) The development of data analysis techniques to produce more accurate oscillation frequency and amplitude measurements; (2) The use of these frequencies to invert for the spherical structure of the Sun; (3) The derivation of the general matrix elements for the major solar asphericities and their use, together with the frequency estimates, to invert for estimates of these asphericities; and (4) The development of techniques by which constraints can be placed on the excitation of solar oscillations. All aspects of the research will be characterized by a close cooperation between M.I.T. and Harvard. This work represents an important step in transferring terrestrial techniques in seismology to the new field of helioseismology. The solar importance lies in furthering our understanding of the solar dynamo and the 11 year variation. Hence, it is important to S/T research.
