PLATO as it is: a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology

A. Miglio; C. Chiappini; B. Mosser; Guy Davies; K. Freeman; L. Girardi; P. Jofre; D. Kawata; B.~M. Rendle; M. Valentini; L. Casagrande; W.~J. Chaplin; G. Gilmore; K. Hawkins; B. Holl; T. Appourchaux; K. Belkacem; D. Bossini; K. Brogaard; M.-J. Goupil; J. Montalban; A. Noels; F. Anders; T. Rodrigues; G. Piotto; D. Pollacco; H. Rauer; C. Allende Prieto; P.~P. Avelino; C. Babusiaux; C. Barban; B. Barbuy; S. Basu; F. Baudin; O. Benomar; O. Bienayme; J. Binney; J. Bland-Hawthorn; A. Bressan; C. Cacciari; T.~L. Campante; S. Cassisi; J. Christensen-Dalsgaard; F. Combes; O. Creevey; M.~S. Cunha; R.~S. de Jong; P. de Laverny; S. Degl'Innocenti; S. Deheuvels; E. Depagne; J. DeRidder; P. DiMatteo; M.~P. Di Mauro; M.-A. Dupret; P. Eggenberger; Y. Elsworth; B. Famaey; S. Feltzing; R.~A. Garcia; O. Gerhard; B.~K. Gibson; L. Gizon; M. Haywood; R. Handberg; U. Heiter; S. Hekker; D. Huber; R. Ibata; D. Katz; S.~D. Kawaler; H. Kjeldsen; D.~W. Kurtz; N. Lagarde; Y. Lebreton; M.~N. Lund; S.~R. Majewski; P. Marigo; M. Martig; S. Mathur; I. Minchev; T. Morel; S. Ortolani; M.~H. Pinsonneault; B. Plez; P.~G. Prada Moroni; D. Pricopi; A. Recio-Blanco; C. Reyle; A. Robin; I.~W. Roxburgh; M. Salaris; B.~X. Santiago; R. Schiavon; A. Serenelli; S. Sharma; V. Silva Aguirre; C. Soubiran; M. Steinmetz; D. Stello; K.~G. Strassmeier; P. Ventura; R. Ventura; N.~A. Walton; C.~C. Worley

doi:10.1002/asna.201713385

PLATO as it is: a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology

A. Miglio, C. Chiappini, B. Mosser, Guy Davies, K. Freeman, L. Girardi, P. Jofre, D. Kawata, B.~M. Rendle, M. Valentini, L. Casagrande, W.~J. Chaplin, G. Gilmore, K. Hawkins, B. Holl, T. Appourchaux, K. Belkacem, D. Bossini, K. Brogaard, M.-J. GoupilJ. Montalban, A. Noels, F. Anders, T. Rodrigues, G. Piotto, D. Pollacco, H. Rauer, C. Allende Prieto, P.~P. Avelino, C. Babusiaux, C. Barban, B. Barbuy, S. Basu, F. Baudin, O. Benomar, O. Bienayme, J. Binney, J. Bland-Hawthorn, A. Bressan, C. Cacciari, T.~L. Campante, S. Cassisi, J. Christensen-Dalsgaard, F. Combes, O. Creevey, M.~S. Cunha, R.~S. de Jong, P. de Laverny, S. Degl'Innocenti, S. Deheuvels, E. Depagne, J. DeRidder, P. DiMatteo, M.~P. Di Mauro, M.-A. Dupret, P. Eggenberger, Y. Elsworth, B. Famaey, S. Feltzing, R.~A. Garcia, O. Gerhard, B.~K. Gibson, L. Gizon, M. Haywood, R. Handberg, U. Heiter, S. Hekker, D. Huber, R. Ibata, D. Katz, S.~D. Kawaler, H. Kjeldsen, D.~W. Kurtz, N. Lagarde, Y. Lebreton, M.~N. Lund, S.~R. Majewski, P. Marigo, M. Martig, S. Mathur, I. Minchev, T. Morel, S. Ortolani, M.~H. Pinsonneault, B. Plez, P.~G. Prada Moroni, D. Pricopi, A. Recio-Blanco, C. Reyle, A. Robin, I.~W. Roxburgh, M. Salaris, B.~X. Santiago, R. Schiavon, A. Serenelli, S. Sharma, V. Silva Aguirre, C. Soubiran, M. Steinmetz, D. Stello, K.~G. Strassmeier, P. Ventura, R. Ventura, N.~A. Walton, C.~C. Worley

Physics and Astronomy

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213 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Deciphering the assembly history of the Milky Way is a formidable task, which becomes possible only if one can produce high-resolution chrono-chemo-kinematical maps of the Galaxy. Data from large-scale astrometric and spectroscopic surveys will soon provide us with a well-defined view of the current chemo-kinematical structure of the Milky Way, but it will only enable a blurred view on the temporal sequence that led to the present-day Galaxy. As demonstrated by the (ongoing) exploitation of data from the pioneering photometric missions CoRoT, Kepler, and K2, asteroseismology provides the way forward: solar-like oscillating giants are excellent evolutionary clocks thanks to the availability of seismic constraints on their mass and to the tight age–initial mass relation they adhere to. In this paper we identify five key outstanding questions relating to the formation and evolution of the Milky Way that will need precise and accurate ages for large samples of stars to be addressed, and we identify the requirements in terms of number of targets and the precision on the stellar properties that are needed to tackle such questions. By quantifying the asteroseismic yields expected from PLATO for red giant stars, we demonstrate that these requirements are within the capabilities of the current instrument design, provided that observations are sufficiently long to identify the evolutionary state and allow robust and precise determination of acoustic-mode frequencies. This will allow us to harvest data of sufficient quality to reach a 10% precision in age. This is a fundamental prerequisite to then reach the more ambitious goal of a similar level of accuracy, which will be possible only if we have at hand a careful appraisal of systematic uncertainties on age deriving from our limited understanding of stellar physics, a goal that conveniently falls within the main aims of PLATO's core science. We therefore strongly endorse PLATO's current design and proposed observational strategy, and conclude that PLATO, as it is, will be a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	644-661
Number of pages	18
Journal	Astronomische Nachrichten
Volume	338
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201713385
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2017

Keywords

Galaxy: structure – stars: abundances
stars: fundamental parameters
stars: oscillations – surveys

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10.1002/asna.201713385Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Miglio_et_al-2017-Astronomische_Nachrichten
Checked for eligibility: 11/07/2019
Final published version, 2.92 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.03778Licence: None: All rights reserved

1 Finished

Asteroseismology and Helioseismology at Birmingham and Queen Mary
Chaplin, B., Elsworth, Y. & Miglio, A.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/04/15 → 30/09/18
Project: Research Councils

Cite this

Miglio, A., Chiappini, C., Mosser, B., Davies, G., Freeman, K., Girardi, L., Jofre, P., Kawata, D., Rendle, B. M., Valentini, M., Casagrande, L., Chaplin, W. J., Gilmore, G., Hawkins, K., Holl, B., Appourchaux, T., Belkacem, K., Bossini, D., Brogaard, K., ... Worley, C. C. (2017). PLATO as it is: a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology. Astronomische Nachrichten, 338(6), 644-661. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201713385

Miglio, A. ; Chiappini, C. ; Mosser, B. ; Davies, Guy ; Freeman, K. ; Girardi, L. ; Jofre, P. ; Kawata, D. ; Rendle, B.~M. ; Valentini, M. ; Casagrande, L. ; Chaplin, W.~J. ; Gilmore, G. ; Hawkins, K. ; Holl, B. ; Appourchaux, T. ; Belkacem, K. ; Bossini, D. ; Brogaard, K. ; Goupil, M.-J. ; Montalban, J. ; Noels, A. ; Anders, F. ; Rodrigues, T. ; Piotto, G. ; Pollacco, D. ; Rauer, H. ; Allende Prieto, C. ; Avelino, P.~P. ; Babusiaux, C. ; Barban, C. ; Barbuy, B. ; Basu, S. ; Baudin, F. ; Benomar, O. ; Bienayme, O. ; Binney, J. ; Bland-Hawthorn, J. ; Bressan, A. ; Cacciari, C. ; Campante, T.~L. ; Cassisi, S. ; Christensen-Dalsgaard, J. ; Combes, F. ; Creevey, O. ; Cunha, M.~S. ; de Jong, R.~S. ; de Laverny, P. ; Degl'Innocenti, S. ; Deheuvels, S. ; Depagne, E. ; DeRidder, J. ; DiMatteo, P. ; Di Mauro, M.~P. ; Dupret, M.-A. ; Eggenberger, P. ; Elsworth, Y. ; Famaey, B. ; Feltzing, S. ; Garcia, R.~A. ; Gerhard, O. ; Gibson, B.~K. ; Gizon, L. ; Haywood, M. ; Handberg, R. ; Heiter, U. ; Hekker, S. ; Huber, D. ; Ibata, R. ; Katz, D. ; Kawaler, S.~D. ; Kjeldsen, H. ; Kurtz, D.~W. ; Lagarde, N. ; Lebreton, Y. ; Lund, M.~N. ; Majewski, S.~R. ; Marigo, P. ; Martig, M. ; Mathur, S. ; Minchev, I. ; Morel, T. ; Ortolani, S. ; Pinsonneault, M.~H. ; Plez, B. ; Prada Moroni, P.~G. ; Pricopi, D. ; Recio-Blanco, A. ; Reyle, C. ; Robin, A. ; Roxburgh, I.~W. ; Salaris, M. ; Santiago, B.~X. ; Schiavon, R. ; Serenelli, A. ; Sharma, S. ; Silva Aguirre, V. ; Soubiran, C. ; Steinmetz, M. ; Stello, D. ; Strassmeier, K.~G. ; Ventura, P. ; Ventura, R. ; Walton, N.~A. ; Worley, C.~C. / PLATO as it is : a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology. In: Astronomische Nachrichten. 2017 ; Vol. 338, No. 6. pp. 644-661.

@article{230c587f6e70479f811c8be6a148c634,

title = "PLATO as it is: a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology",

abstract = "Deciphering the assembly history of the Milky Way is a formidable task, which becomes possible only if one can produce high-resolution chrono-chemo-kinematical maps of the Galaxy. Data from large-scale astrometric and spectroscopic surveys will soon provide us with a well-defined view of the current chemo-kinematical structure of the Milky Way, but it will only enable a blurred view on the temporal sequence that led to the present-day Galaxy. As demonstrated by the (ongoing) exploitation of data from the pioneering photometric missions CoRoT, Kepler, and K2, asteroseismology provides the way forward: solar-like oscillating giants are excellent evolutionary clocks thanks to the availability of seismic constraints on their mass and to the tight age–initial mass relation they adhere to. In this paper we identify five key outstanding questions relating to the formation and evolution of the Milky Way that will need precise and accurate ages for large samples of stars to be addressed, and we identify the requirements in terms of number of targets and the precision on the stellar properties that are needed to tackle such questions. By quantifying the asteroseismic yields expected from PLATO for red giant stars, we demonstrate that these requirements are within the capabilities of the current instrument design, provided that observations are sufficiently long to identify the evolutionary state and allow robust and precise determination of acoustic-mode frequencies. This will allow us to harvest data of sufficient quality to reach a 10% precision in age. This is a fundamental prerequisite to then reach the more ambitious goal of a similar level of accuracy, which will be possible only if we have at hand a careful appraisal of systematic uncertainties on age deriving from our limited understanding of stellar physics, a goal that conveniently falls within the main aims of PLATO's core science. We therefore strongly endorse PLATO's current design and proposed observational strategy, and conclude that PLATO, as it is, will be a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology.",

keywords = "Galaxy: structure – stars: abundances, stars: fundamental parameters, stars: oscillations – surveys",

author = "A. Miglio and C. Chiappini and B. Mosser and Guy Davies and K. Freeman and L. Girardi and P. Jofre and D. Kawata and B.~M. Rendle and M. Valentini and L. Casagrande and W.~J. Chaplin and G. Gilmore and K. Hawkins and B. Holl and T. Appourchaux and K. Belkacem and D. Bossini and K. Brogaard and M.-J. Goupil and J. Montalban and A. Noels and F. Anders and T. Rodrigues and G. Piotto and D. Pollacco and H. Rauer and {Allende Prieto}, C. and P.~P. Avelino and C. Babusiaux and C. Barban and B. Barbuy and S. Basu and F. Baudin and O. Benomar and O. Bienayme and J. Binney and J. Bland-Hawthorn and A. Bressan and C. Cacciari and T.~L. Campante and S. Cassisi and J. Christensen-Dalsgaard and F. Combes and O. Creevey and M.~S. Cunha and {de Jong}, R.~S. and {de Laverny}, P. and S. Degl'Innocenti and S. Deheuvels and E. Depagne and J. DeRidder and P. DiMatteo and {Di Mauro}, M.~P. and M.-A. Dupret and P. Eggenberger and Y. Elsworth and B. Famaey and S. Feltzing and R.~A. Garcia and O. Gerhard and B.~K. Gibson and L. Gizon and M. Haywood and R. Handberg and U. Heiter and S. Hekker and D. Huber and R. Ibata and D. Katz and S.~D. Kawaler and H. Kjeldsen and D.~W. Kurtz and N. Lagarde and Y. Lebreton and M.~N. Lund and S.~R. Majewski and P. Marigo and M. Martig and S. Mathur and I. Minchev and T. Morel and S. Ortolani and M.~H. Pinsonneault and B. Plez and {Prada Moroni}, P.~G. and D. Pricopi and A. Recio-Blanco and C. Reyle and A. Robin and I.~W. Roxburgh and M. Salaris and B.~X. Santiago and R. Schiavon and A. Serenelli and S. Sharma and {Silva Aguirre}, V. and C. Soubiran and M. Steinmetz and D. Stello and K.~G. Strassmeier and P. Ventura and R. Ventura and N.~A. Walton and C.~C. Worley",

year = "2017",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1002/asna.201713385",

language = "English",

volume = "338",

pages = "644--661",

journal = "Astronomische Nachrichten",

issn = "0004-6337",

publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",

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Miglio, A, Chiappini, C, Mosser, B, Davies, G, Freeman, K, Girardi, L, Jofre, P, Kawata, D, Rendle, BM, Valentini, M, Casagrande, L, Chaplin, WJ, Gilmore, G, Hawkins, K, Holl, B, Appourchaux, T, Belkacem, K, Bossini, D, Brogaard, K, Goupil, M-J, Montalban, J, Noels, A, Anders, F, Rodrigues, T, Piotto, G, Pollacco, D, Rauer, H, Allende Prieto, C, Avelino, PP, Babusiaux, C, Barban, C, Barbuy, B, Basu, S, Baudin, F, Benomar, O, Bienayme, O, Binney, J, Bland-Hawthorn, J, Bressan, A, Cacciari, C, Campante, TL, Cassisi, S, Christensen-Dalsgaard, J, Combes, F, Creevey, O, Cunha, MS, de Jong, RS, de Laverny, P, Degl'Innocenti, S, Deheuvels, S, Depagne, E, DeRidder, J, DiMatteo, P, Di Mauro, MP, Dupret, M-A, Eggenberger, P, Elsworth, Y, Famaey, B, Feltzing, S, Garcia, RA, Gerhard, O, Gibson, BK, Gizon, L, Haywood, M, Handberg, R, Heiter, U, Hekker, S, Huber, D, Ibata, R, Katz, D, Kawaler, SD, Kjeldsen, H, Kurtz, DW, Lagarde, N, Lebreton, Y, Lund, MN, Majewski, SR, Marigo, P, Martig, M, Mathur, S, Minchev, I, Morel, T, Ortolani, S, Pinsonneault, MH, Plez, B, Prada Moroni, PG, Pricopi, D, Recio-Blanco, A, Reyle, C, Robin, A, Roxburgh, IW, Salaris, M, Santiago, BX, Schiavon, R, Serenelli, A, Sharma, S, Silva Aguirre, V, Soubiran, C, Steinmetz, M, Stello, D, Strassmeier, KG, Ventura, P, Ventura, R, Walton, NA & Worley, CC 2017, 'PLATO as it is: a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology', Astronomische Nachrichten, vol. 338, no. 6, pp. 644-661. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201713385

PLATO as it is : a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology. / Miglio, A.; Chiappini, C.; Mosser, B.; Davies, Guy; Freeman, K.; Girardi, L.; Jofre, P.; Kawata, D.; Rendle, B.~M.; Valentini, M.; Casagrande, L.; Chaplin, W.~J.; Gilmore, G.; Hawkins, K.; Holl, B.; Appourchaux, T.; Belkacem, K.; Bossini, D.; Brogaard, K.; Goupil, M.-J.; Montalban, J.; Noels, A.; Anders, F.; Rodrigues, T.; Piotto, G.; Pollacco, D.; Rauer, H.; Allende Prieto, C.; Avelino, P.~P.; Babusiaux, C.; Barban, C.; Barbuy, B.; Basu, S.; Baudin, F.; Benomar, O.; Bienayme, O.; Binney, J.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Bressan, A.; Cacciari, C.; Campante, T.~L.; Cassisi, S.; Christensen-Dalsgaard, J.; Combes, F.; Creevey, O.; Cunha, M.~S.; de Jong, R.~S.; de Laverny, P.; Degl'Innocenti, S.; Deheuvels, S.; Depagne, E.; DeRidder, J.; DiMatteo, P.; Di Mauro, M.~P.; Dupret, M.-A.; Eggenberger, P.; Elsworth, Y.; Famaey, B.; Feltzing, S.; Garcia, R.~A.; Gerhard, O.; Gibson, B.~K.; Gizon, L.; Haywood, M.; Handberg, R.; Heiter, U.; Hekker, S.; Huber, D.; Ibata, R.; Katz, D.; Kawaler, S.~D.; Kjeldsen, H.; Kurtz, D.~W.; Lagarde, N.; Lebreton, Y.; Lund, M.~N.; Majewski, S.~R.; Marigo, P.; Martig, M.; Mathur, S.; Minchev, I.; Morel, T.; Ortolani, S.; Pinsonneault, M.~H.; Plez, B.; Prada Moroni, P.~G.; Pricopi, D.; Recio-Blanco, A.; Reyle, C.; Robin, A.; Roxburgh, I.~W.; Salaris, M.; Santiago, B.~X.; Schiavon, R.; Serenelli, A.; Sharma, S.; Silva Aguirre, V.; Soubiran, C.; Steinmetz, M.; Stello, D.; Strassmeier, K.~G.; Ventura, P.; Ventura, R.; Walton, N.~A.; Worley, C.~C.

In: Astronomische Nachrichten, Vol. 338, No. 6, 01.07.2017, p. 644-661.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - PLATO as it is

T2 - a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology

AU - Miglio, A.

AU - Chiappini, C.

AU - Mosser, B.

AU - Davies, Guy

AU - Freeman, K.

AU - Girardi, L.

AU - Jofre, P.

AU - Kawata, D.

AU - Rendle, B.~M.

AU - Valentini, M.

AU - Casagrande, L.

AU - Chaplin, W.~J.

AU - Gilmore, G.

AU - Hawkins, K.

AU - Holl, B.

AU - Appourchaux, T.

AU - Belkacem, K.

AU - Bossini, D.

AU - Brogaard, K.

AU - Goupil, M.-J.

AU - Montalban, J.

AU - Noels, A.

AU - Anders, F.

AU - Rodrigues, T.

AU - Piotto, G.

AU - Pollacco, D.

AU - Rauer, H.

AU - Allende Prieto, C.

AU - Avelino, P.~P.

AU - Babusiaux, C.

AU - Barban, C.

AU - Barbuy, B.

AU - Basu, S.

AU - Baudin, F.

AU - Benomar, O.

AU - Bienayme, O.

AU - Binney, J.

AU - Bland-Hawthorn, J.

AU - Bressan, A.

AU - Cacciari, C.

AU - Campante, T.~L.

AU - Cassisi, S.

AU - Christensen-Dalsgaard, J.

AU - Combes, F.

AU - Creevey, O.

AU - Cunha, M.~S.

AU - de Jong, R.~S.

AU - de Laverny, P.

AU - Degl'Innocenti, S.

AU - Deheuvels, S.

AU - Depagne, E.

AU - DeRidder, J.

AU - DiMatteo, P.

AU - Di Mauro, M.~P.

AU - Dupret, M.-A.

AU - Eggenberger, P.

AU - Elsworth, Y.

AU - Famaey, B.

AU - Feltzing, S.

AU - Garcia, R.~A.

AU - Gerhard, O.

AU - Gibson, B.~K.

AU - Gizon, L.

AU - Haywood, M.

AU - Handberg, R.

AU - Heiter, U.

AU - Hekker, S.

AU - Huber, D.

AU - Ibata, R.

AU - Katz, D.

AU - Kawaler, S.~D.

AU - Kjeldsen, H.

AU - Kurtz, D.~W.

AU - Lagarde, N.

AU - Lebreton, Y.

AU - Lund, M.~N.

AU - Majewski, S.~R.

AU - Marigo, P.

AU - Martig, M.

AU - Mathur, S.

AU - Minchev, I.

AU - Morel, T.

AU - Ortolani, S.

AU - Pinsonneault, M.~H.

AU - Plez, B.

AU - Prada Moroni, P.~G.

AU - Pricopi, D.

AU - Recio-Blanco, A.

AU - Reyle, C.

AU - Robin, A.

AU - Roxburgh, I.~W.

AU - Salaris, M.

AU - Santiago, B.~X.

AU - Schiavon, R.

AU - Serenelli, A.

AU - Sharma, S.

AU - Silva Aguirre, V.

AU - Soubiran, C.

AU - Steinmetz, M.

AU - Stello, D.

AU - Strassmeier, K.~G.

AU - Ventura, P.

AU - Ventura, R.

AU - Walton, N.~A.

AU - Worley, C.~C.

PY - 2017/7/1

Y1 - 2017/7/1

N2 - Deciphering the assembly history of the Milky Way is a formidable task, which becomes possible only if one can produce high-resolution chrono-chemo-kinematical maps of the Galaxy. Data from large-scale astrometric and spectroscopic surveys will soon provide us with a well-defined view of the current chemo-kinematical structure of the Milky Way, but it will only enable a blurred view on the temporal sequence that led to the present-day Galaxy. As demonstrated by the (ongoing) exploitation of data from the pioneering photometric missions CoRoT, Kepler, and K2, asteroseismology provides the way forward: solar-like oscillating giants are excellent evolutionary clocks thanks to the availability of seismic constraints on their mass and to the tight age–initial mass relation they adhere to. In this paper we identify five key outstanding questions relating to the formation and evolution of the Milky Way that will need precise and accurate ages for large samples of stars to be addressed, and we identify the requirements in terms of number of targets and the precision on the stellar properties that are needed to tackle such questions. By quantifying the asteroseismic yields expected from PLATO for red giant stars, we demonstrate that these requirements are within the capabilities of the current instrument design, provided that observations are sufficiently long to identify the evolutionary state and allow robust and precise determination of acoustic-mode frequencies. This will allow us to harvest data of sufficient quality to reach a 10% precision in age. This is a fundamental prerequisite to then reach the more ambitious goal of a similar level of accuracy, which will be possible only if we have at hand a careful appraisal of systematic uncertainties on age deriving from our limited understanding of stellar physics, a goal that conveniently falls within the main aims of PLATO's core science. We therefore strongly endorse PLATO's current design and proposed observational strategy, and conclude that PLATO, as it is, will be a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology.

AB - Deciphering the assembly history of the Milky Way is a formidable task, which becomes possible only if one can produce high-resolution chrono-chemo-kinematical maps of the Galaxy. Data from large-scale astrometric and spectroscopic surveys will soon provide us with a well-defined view of the current chemo-kinematical structure of the Milky Way, but it will only enable a blurred view on the temporal sequence that led to the present-day Galaxy. As demonstrated by the (ongoing) exploitation of data from the pioneering photometric missions CoRoT, Kepler, and K2, asteroseismology provides the way forward: solar-like oscillating giants are excellent evolutionary clocks thanks to the availability of seismic constraints on their mass and to the tight age–initial mass relation they adhere to. In this paper we identify five key outstanding questions relating to the formation and evolution of the Milky Way that will need precise and accurate ages for large samples of stars to be addressed, and we identify the requirements in terms of number of targets and the precision on the stellar properties that are needed to tackle such questions. By quantifying the asteroseismic yields expected from PLATO for red giant stars, we demonstrate that these requirements are within the capabilities of the current instrument design, provided that observations are sufficiently long to identify the evolutionary state and allow robust and precise determination of acoustic-mode frequencies. This will allow us to harvest data of sufficient quality to reach a 10% precision in age. This is a fundamental prerequisite to then reach the more ambitious goal of a similar level of accuracy, which will be possible only if we have at hand a careful appraisal of systematic uncertainties on age deriving from our limited understanding of stellar physics, a goal that conveniently falls within the main aims of PLATO's core science. We therefore strongly endorse PLATO's current design and proposed observational strategy, and conclude that PLATO, as it is, will be a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology.

KW - Galaxy: structure – stars: abundances

KW - stars: fundamental parameters

KW - stars: oscillations – surveys

U2 - 10.1002/asna.201713385

DO - 10.1002/asna.201713385

M3 - Article

VL - 338

SP - 644

EP - 661

JO - Astronomische Nachrichten

JF - Astronomische Nachrichten

SN - 0004-6337

IS - 6

ER -

PLATO as it is: a legacy mission for Galactic archaeology

Abstract

Keywords

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Asteroseismology and Helioseismology at Birmingham and Queen Mary

Cite this