Merging a Line Profile Series Into an One-Dimensional Dataset, an Applied Technique for Nonradial Pulsation Mode Diagnosis

A new method of nonradial pulsation mode identification is developed. This method is based on Fourier analysis of time series line profile variations that have been merged into a one-dimensional equally spaced dataset. In principle, this method is identical to that of two-dimensional Fourier transform of line profile time series, but it is much more convenient to use for most of astronomers who have experience in period analysis of light curves. The features of both temporal frequency and Doppler spatial frequency can be accurately retrieved. This method provides an easy way to carry out mode identification from line profiles and minimizes the uncertainty of mode determination caused by random noise. Comments and assessment of related methods of mode identification are given. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.