About this Research Topic
Time Domain Astronomy (TDA) studies those astronomical sources that are variable in the observable timescale. Astronomical phenomena like stellar evolution, mergers of galaxies, and the expansion of the Universe happens over astronomical timescales and thus cannot be considered a part of TDA. In fact, TDA encompasses variable sources (such as variable stars, pulsars, quasars) and transients (such as Gamma-Ray Bursts, Fast Radio Bursts, supernovae explosions, tidal disruption events), i.e., variable phenomena that are observed during a short period of time. TDA also includes transient phenomena like sunspots and starspots which fall under the umbrella of astroseismology.
The primary goal of TDA is to understand the physics behind the observed variability and transience in astronomical sources. By analyzing the data in the time domain, we can unveil physical properties of the source (such as its size, temperature, composition, and distance), study their environments, and examine the physical processes that govern their evolution. Most of the information is encoded in the light curve of the source, and a proper analysis can help us reveal them. A variety of techniques are available to extract information from these light curves and understand the underlying physical processes, including statistical analysis, time series modeling and lightcurve simulations.
Therefore, TDA enables us to explore a wide range of physical processes, thanks to its broad applications, and is likely to play an increasingly significant role in our understanding of the Universe. This Research Topic wants to open discussion on TDA and its applications on the several astronomical sources and phenomena. We welcome manuscripts related to all aspects of TDA, with a focus on:
- Physics of periodic sources, such as variable stars, pulsars, quasars.
- Physics of transients such as supernovae, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Fast Radio Bursts.
- Study of stellar and sunspot activity.
- Discussion on the different methods to analyze lightcurves.
The primary goal of TDA is to understand the physics behind the observed variability and transience in astronomical sources. By analyzing the data in the time domain, we can unveil physical properties of the source (such as its size, temperature, composition, and distance), study their environments, and examine the physical processes that govern their evolution. Most of the information is encoded in the light curve of the source, and a proper analysis can help us reveal them. A variety of techniques are available to extract information from these light curves and understand the underlying physical processes, including statistical analysis, time series modeling and lightcurve simulations.
Therefore, TDA enables us to explore a wide range of physical processes, thanks to its broad applications, and is likely to play an increasingly significant role in our understanding of the Universe. This Research Topic wants to open discussion on TDA and its applications on the several astronomical sources and phenomena. We welcome manuscripts related to all aspects of TDA, with a focus on:
- Physics of periodic sources, such as variable stars, pulsars, quasars.
- Physics of transients such as supernovae, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and Fast Radio Bursts.
- Study of stellar and sunspot activity.
- Discussion on the different methods to analyze lightcurves.
Keywords: transients, variables, light curve analysis, blazars, gamma ray bursts, fast radio bursts, super novae, tidal disruption
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
