Phase variation as a new tool in the investigation of the excitation and damping of solar p-modes

We report on a novel way of using the phase evolution in solar oscillation data as a tool in the study of p-mode excitation and damping. A mathematical formalism is presented, backed by extensive simulations, that enables the determination of the line width of modes close to the peak of the solar oscillation spectrum. The method potentially avoids the usual problem of strong correlation between the width and the height of the modes. We also identify further possible uses of the technique.