On the Photon Diffusion Time Scale for the Sun
Abstract
It is pointed out that the common choice of 0.5-1.0 cm for the average step length of a photon diffusing through the sun gives a diffusion time scale which is too short by an order of magnitude. Simple random walk theory with step lengths determined from a solar model gives the value of 0.090 cm for the average step length, which gives 170,000 yr for the diffusion time scale of the present sun.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- December 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1086/172103
- Bibcode:
- 1992ApJ...401..759M
- Keywords:
-
- Diffuse Radiation;
- Radiative Transfer;
- Solar Interior;
- Solar Radiation;
- Stellar Structure;
- Diffusion;
- Random Walk;
- Stellar Convection;
- Stellar Models;
- Solar Physics;
- DIFFUSION;
- RADIATIVE TRANSFER;
- SUN: INTERIOR