Usage

There are three different ways of using AIMS:

  1. generating a binary file with the grid of models (including names, global parameters, and pulsation frequencies).

    Note

    This step must be carried out before the following two steps as these require the above binary file to function correctly.

  2. carrying out tests to evaluate the accuracy of the interpolation for a given grid of models.

  3. finding the properties of an observed star thanks to its classic and seismic parameters.

The way AIMS is used is decided by the values given in the AIMS_configure.py file, which also contains a number of other control parameters. Extensive comments are included in this file to help the user know how to set the various parameters.

Generating a binary grid

Requirements:
  • a grid of models, including the pulsation frequencies; the formats for the files with the pulsation frequencies is described in model.Model.read_file().
  • a list with the paths and a set of global parameters for each model in the grid; the format this file is described in model.Model_grid.read_model_list().
Relevant parameters in AIMS_configure.py:
  • write_data: set this to True so that AIMS will write binary grid.
  • mode_format: this specifies the format of the files with the pulsation frequencies.
  • list_grid: set this to the filename of the file with the list of paths and global parameters.
  • binary_grid: set this to the filename of the file which will contain the binary data.
  • grid_params: specify the parameters relevant to the grid (excluding age, which is dealt with separately). Different options can be found in the source to model.Model.string_to_param().
  • npositive: set this to True to only save modes with \(n \ge 0\) in the binary file.
  • agsm_cutoff: set this to True to exclude modes above the cutoff frequency, as identified by the icase variable in agsm files from the ADIPLS pulsation code.

To run AIMS in this configuration, just type the following in a terminal window:

./AIMS.py

Testing the accuracy of the interpolation

Requirements:
  • a binary grid of models as produced by AIMS
Relevant parameters in AIMS_configure.py:
  • write_data: set this to False otherwise a binary grid will be produced, the interpolations tests will not be carried out.
  • test_interpolation: set this to True so that AIMS will carry out the interpolation tests.
  • interpolation_file: specify the name of the file in which to write the results from the interpolation test in binary format. These results can be plotted using plot_interpolation_test.py.

To run AIMS in this configuration, just type the following in a terminal window:

./AIMS.py

Characterising an observed star

Requirements:
Relevant parameters in AIMS_configure.py:
  • write_data: set this to False
  • test_interpolation: set this to False
  • most of the parameters in this file - see comments for details

To run AIMS in this configuration, just type the following in a terminal window:

./AIMS.py file_with_constraints

where file_with_constraints is the file with the observational constraints.