Open AccessSignificance of periodogram peaks and a pulsation mode analysis of the Beta Cephei star V403 Car
Author(s) -
Frescura F. A. M.,
Engelbrecht C. A.,
Frank B. S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13499.x
Subject(s) - physics , monte carlo method , periodogram , statistical physics , series (stratigraphy) , astrophysics , statistics , mathematics , paleontology , biology
We discuss some commonly used methods for determining the significance of peaks in the periodograms of time series. We review methods for constructing the classical significance tests, their corresponding false alarm probability functions and the role played in these by independent random variables and by empirical and theoretical cumulative distribution functions. We discuss the concepts of independent frequencies and oversampling in periodogram analysis. We then compare the results of new Monte Carlo simulations for evenly spaced time series with results obtained previously by other authors, and present the results of Monte Carlo simulations for a specific unevenly spaced time series obtained for V403 Car.