Astrophysical calculations have revealed a surprisingly high concentration of silver in the Sun’s deep interior. The new figure is roughly 55% higher than previous measurements.
This discovery was made by an international team of European and Indian researchers, as reported by Uppsala University’s press service. The study was led by Professor Bijai Sahu from the Laboratory for Physical Research in India.
Earlier observations had suggested that the Sun contains less silver than ancient chondrite meteorites. This discrepancy raised questions, as both types of objects formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a common cloud of matter.
To verify these earlier estimates, scientists simulated the Sun’s structure in three dimensions. The calculations took into account the movement of elements between the star’s layers and the interaction of silver atoms with photons.
The team then determined the shape of the solar spectrum for several possible silver abundances and compared the results with the star’s actual spectrum. It turned out that a higher silver concentration resolves the discrepancy between the composition of the Sun and that of primordial meteorites.
Similar measurements are now planned for other stars. The data obtained could help explain why silver abundances differ between large and small stars with similar chemical origins, as well as refine our understanding of how this metal accumulates across the universe.
About the Author
