Sound-speed inversion of the Sun using a nonlocal statistical convection theory
Abstract
Helioseismic inversions reveal a major discrepancy in sound speed between the Sun and the standard solar model just below the base of solar convection zone. We demonstrate that this discrepancy is caused by the inherent shortcomings of the local mixing-length theory adopted in the standard solar model. Using a self-consistent nonlocal convection theory, we construct an envelope model of the Sun for sound-speed inversion. Our solar model has a very smooth transition from the convective envelope to the radiative interior; and the convective energy flux changes sign crossing the boundaries of the convection zone. It shows evident improvement over the standard solar model, with a significant reduction in the discrepancy in sound speed between the Sun and local convection models.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1210.4286,
title = {Sound-speed inversion of the Sun using a nonlocal statistical convection theory},
author = {Chunguang Zhang and Licai Deng and Darun Xiong and Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1210.4286},
year = {2012}
}
Comments
12 pages, 4 figures, to appear in ApJ Letters, 2012 November 1