Application of Fano profiles to asymmetric resonances in helioseismology

Parallels are drawn between the asymmetric resonance profiles observed in g lobal helioseismology and the Fano theory for autoionisation profiles in at omic spectroscopy. We show that the underlying physics of the interaction o f a discrete resonance with a correlated continuum is common to both system s. The approximate formula normally used for fitting to profiles in heliose ismology is essentially similar to that developed for atomic spectroscopy b y Fano. We propose that the two systems are in reality equivalent. This pro position enables us to understand better which resonances in helioseismolog y will be correlated with each other and with which solar background "conti nua". We also question whether the two interacting influences of excitation sources and correlated solar background, are really separate independent p rocesses.