On the time scale of energy transport in the sun
Abstract
It is pointed out that the time scale of energy transport in the Sun is the Kelvin-Helmholtz time scale, of order 3×107 years, roughly 100 times longer than the photon-diffusion time estimated by Mitalas and Sills (1992). The difference corresponds to a factor Ugas/Urad, the ratio of thermal energy density to radiation energy density. Thus the heat transport, even when mediated by photons, is slowed down by the large heat capacity of the star. A numerical example calculation is presented.
- Publication:
-
Solar Physics
- Pub Date:
- January 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1023/A:1022952621810
- Bibcode:
- 2003SoPh..212....3S
- Keywords:
-
- Radiation;
- Energy Density;
- Heat Capacity;
- Thermal Energy;
- Heat Transport