Dynamic screening in solar p-p reactions: is the mean-field approach applicable in solar plasma?

Context. The Sun constitutes an excellent laboratory of fundamental physics. With the advent of helioseismology, we were able to probe its internal layers with unprecendented precision and thoroughness. However, the current state of solar modelling is still stained by tedious issues. One of these central problems is related to the disagreement between models computed with recent photospheric abundances and helioseismic constraints. The observed discrepancies raise questions on some fundamental ingredients entering the computation of solar and stellar evolution models. Aims. We used solar evolutionary models as initial conditions for reintegrating their structure using Ledoux discriminant inversions. The resulting models are defined as seismic solar models, satisfying the equations of hydrostatic equilibrium. These seismic models will allow us to better constrain the internal structure of the Sun and provide complementary information to that of calibrated standard and non-standard models. Methods. We used inversions of the Ledoux discriminant to reintegrate seismic solar models satisfying the equations of hydrostatic equilibrium. These seismic models were computed using various reference models with different equations of state, abundances, and opacity tables. We checked the robustness of our approach by confirming the good agreement of our seismic models in terms of sound speed, density, and entropy proxy inversions, as well as frequency-separation ratios of low-degree pressure modes. Results. Our method allows us to determine the Ledoux discriminant profile of the Sun with an excellent accuracy and compute full profiles of this quantity. Our seismic models show an agreement with seismic data of ≈0.1% in sound speed, density, and entropy proxy after seven iterations in addition to an excellent agreement with the observed frequency-separation ratios. They surpass all standard and non-standard evolutionary models including ad hoc modifications of their physical ingredients that aim to reproduce helioseismic constraints. Conclusions. The obtained seismic Ledoux discriminant profile, as well as the full consistent structure obtained from our reconstruction procedure paves the way for renewed attempts at constraining the solar modelling problem and the missing physical processes acting in the solar interior by breaking free from the hypotheses of evolutionary models.

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Higher metal abundances do not solve the solar problem

Buldgen

Eggenberger

Noels

et al. 2023

A&A

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Context. The Sun acts as a cornerstone of stellar physics. Thanks to spectroscopic, helioseismic and neutrino flux observations, we can use the Sun as a laboratory of fundamental physics in extreme conditions. The conclusions we draw are then used to inform and calibrate evolutionary models of all other stars in the Universe. However, solar models are in tension with helioseismic constraints. The debate on the 'solar problem' has hitherto led to numerous publications discussing potential issues with solar models and abundances. Aims. Using the recently suggested high-metallicity abundances for the Sun, we compute standard solar models as well as models with macroscopic transport that reproduce the solar surface lithium abundances, and we analyze their properties in terms of helioseismic and neutrino flux observations. Methods. We compute solar evolutionary models and combine spectroscopic and helioseismic constraints as well as neutrino fluxes to investigate the impact of macroscopic transport on these measurements. Results. When high-metallicity solar models are calibrated to reproduce the measured solar lithium depletion, tensions arise with respect to helioseismology and neutrino fluxes. This is yet another demonstration that the solar problem is also linked to the physical prescriptions of solar evolutionary models and not to chemical composition alone. Conclusions. A revision of the physical ingredients of solar models is needed in order to improve our understanding of stellar structure and evolution. The solar problem is not limited to the photospheric abundances if the depletion of light elements is considered. In addition, tighter constraints on the solar beryllium abundance will play a key role improving of solar models.

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Dynamic screening in solar p-p reactions: is the mean-field approach applicable in solar plasma?

Cited by 5 publications

References 19 publications

Amplitudes of Solar Gravity Modes: A Review

Amplitudes of Solar Gravity Modes: A Review

Seismic solar models from Ledoux discriminant inversions

Higher metal abundances do not solve the solar problem

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