Diagnostics for the Solar Interior

A velocity map of the sun surface acoustic waves: red regions represent inward motions while blue regions show outward motions Click on image for full size (223K GIF) Image courtesy of Mount Wilson Observatory

The Sun releases energy. This energy is made in the center of the Sun. But we can't see past the surface of the Sun. So how do we know how this energy is made? Well, scientists use diagnostics to figure out what is on the inside of the Sun.

When you go to the doctor, the doctor can't see through your skin to see if your heart is fine. So the doctor may use an instrument to listen to your heart. Even though the doctor can't see your heart working, he or she uses listening as a diagnostic to make su re your heart is working well.

One diagnostic scientists use to figure out what is inside the Sun is called helioseismology. (Impress your teachers by using that big word!)

Another important diagnostic is neutrino detection. Neutrinos are made in the nuclear reactions that take place in the center of the Sun.

If scientists look at neutrinos and study helioseismology, they can piece together how the Sun makes its energy. They can also start to figure out what will happen to the Sun during its life cycle.

A velocity map of the sun surface acoustic waves: red regions represent inward motions while blue regions show outward motions Click on image for full size (223K GIF) Image courtesy of Mount Wilson Observatory

The Sun releases energy. The processes that make this energy take place in the center of the Sun. We can't see past the surface of the Sun. But scientists use indirect ways (diagnostics) to figure out just how the energy is produced.

One way scientists research the inside of the Sun is to study helioseismology. Helioseismology is just a big word that means the study of the vibrations of the Sun and the waves these vibrations make. (If you were that hot, you'd shake a little too!)

Another important diagnostic is neutrino detection. Neutrinos are produced in the nuclear reactions that take place in the core of the Sun.

If scientists look at neutrinos and the waves made by the Sun vibrating, they can piece together how the Sun makes its energy. They can also start to figure out what will happen to the Sun during its life cycle.

A velocity map of the sun surface acoustic waves: red regions represent inward motions while blue regions show outward motions Click on image for full size (223K GIF) Image courtesy of Mount Wilson Observatory

The Sun, as well as other stars, releases energy in the form of radiation and particles.

The processes that produce this energy are taking place in the interior of the Sun, where direct observations are not possible. However by means of indirect methods it is possible to determine what the nature of this energy source is likely to be.

Two of the most important diagnostics for the solar interior are neutrino detection and the analysis of the sound (compressional) waves that propagate through the Sun ( Helioseismology). Neutrinos are produced in the nuclear reactions that take place in the core of the Sun.

From this information, it is possible to formulate theories about the life cycle of the Sun and of stars in general.