The Insideout Sun
The plasma ball model of the Sun, which has been used as the basis for much of astrophysics, suggests a thermodynamic profile which differs from recent measurements of the corona. Clearly the model is incorrect. This paper analyses the measured data and, ignoring past theories, proposes a new model. Headline findings are:
The Sun’s core conditions imply significant gamma radiation flux. Gamma wavelengths are small enough to traverse the cavernous hydrogen atom and also collide with electrons. Such proclaims the existence of Compton scattering, which is detectable in the solar spectrum. Also, the spectrum indicates the existence of hydrogen densities up to the thirtieth power of ten, which implies electron degeneracy and which, applying the Kepler-Hales theorem, is the maximum density of hydrogen and which is necessarily solid and extremely cold. Coronal measurements of density are asymptotic at the photosphere, indicating that this cold solid layer exists immediately beneath the photosphere.
Such a cold layer could not have been created around the central hot plasma, so must have existed before the plasma formed. Meanwhile, the Jeans instability principle does not work unless the collapsing pre-stellar cloud loses heat while doing so, as supported by the underlying mechanism of heat diffusion.
The Sun, therefore, began with a cold, solid centre until gravitational pressure built up sufficiently to overcome Coulomb pressure at the very centre. Thus fusion initiated at the centre and has continued to burn outwards ever since, forming the cold solid shell that can be seen in the data. The shell is maintained by the competing gravitational and radiation pressures, in comparison with which the thermal pressure in the corona is negligible.
The corona is heated by Compton scattering and diffusion.
The solar radiation output varies with the internal radius of the shell and therefore with the age of the Sun. There is no universal mass/luminosity relationship of stars. The early Sun’s luminosity was very small. Very large stars may lose luminosity as the inner shell surface becomes too cold for fusion. Probably most stars are not fully illuminated. So galaxy total mass cannot be estimated from its luminosity.
Regardless of man’s efforts, the earth’s climate will continue to rise in temperature. The Sun’s increasing output is evidenced by the continuing presence of volatiles in Mercury’s atmosphere and accounts for the status of Venus.
The Sun will die when the internal fusion burns through the shell. It is probably much older than previous estimates and, in astronomical terms, may be alarmingly close to its demise. Rough calculation suggests the sun is 95% through its life.
Don’t shoot the messenger!
The full paper, in MNRAS format, is ready to publish.
