Temperature of the sun's core

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Sun's Core Temperature: Key Measurements and Estimates

Multiple studies consistently estimate the temperature at the core of the Sun to be around 15 million to 16 million Kelvin. This extremely high temperature is necessary for the nuclear fusion reactions that power the Sun and produce its energy output 2346.

Scientific Methods and Models for Core Temperature

Helioseismic data and solar models are used to constrain and refine estimates of the Sun's core temperature. These models, which incorporate sound speed and density profiles, suggest the central temperature is tightly bounded between 15.2 million and 16.1 million Kelvin, with a commonly cited value of about 15.6 million Kelvin . These findings are supported by the need to match observed solar luminosity and neutrino fluxes, which are sensitive to the core temperature 16.

Historical and Alternative Estimates

Earlier models, such as the point-convective model, produced higher estimates, with one study suggesting a central temperature of 25.7 million degrees Celsius (about 25.7 million Kelvin) . However, more recent and widely accepted models converge on the lower range of 15–16 million Kelvin 12346.

Outlier and Contradictory Views

A minority viewpoint challenges the standard model, suggesting a much lower core temperature of about 6,000 Kelvin and proposing that the Sun's core is solid and metallic rather than a plasma. However, this view is not supported by mainstream solar physics and lacks observational evidence for its claims .

Conclusion

The consensus among solar physicists is that the temperature at the Sun's core is approximately 15–16 million Kelvin. This temperature is essential for sustaining the nuclear fusion processes that generate the Sun’s energy and is supported by a range of observational and theoretical studies 12346. Alternative models suggesting much lower core temperatures are not widely accepted in the scientific community.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

An atlas of Hubble Space Telescope photometric, spectrophotometric, and polarimetric calibration objects

The solar core's temperature and composition profiles need to be revised upwards by a few percent, with the central temperature being (15.6 + 0.40) x 106 K, to match observed solar luminosity and helioseismic data.

Highly Cited

1990·

218citations

·D. Turnsheket al.

The Astronomical Journal

15 Million Degrees: A Journey to the Centre of the Sun

The Sun's core is over 15 million degrees and under immense pressure, where sunlight is created under extreme conditions.

2016·

2citations

·L. Green

Solar Radiation Models and Information for Renewable Energy Applications

The Sun's core temperature is about 16 million K and has a density of about 160 times the density of water, making it very hot and dense.

2012·

6citations

·E. Falayiet al.

The Solar Furnace

The solar furnace is powered by nuclear fusion, with induction heating at the photosphere, Joule-Thomson effect in the chromosphere, and plasma expansion in the corona, explaining the threefold structure of the solar atmosphere.

2018·

0citations

·C. Vita-Finzi

Solar Radiation Characteristics

The Sun generates immense thermonuclear energy through nuclear fusion in its core, with a temperature of ~2106 K and a mass primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.

2018·

5citations

·N. Kaushikaet al.

Nuclear Fusion of Light Elements

The Sun creates energy and light by fusing protons in a dense gaseous state into helium, using the "proton-proton" chain identified by Hans Bethe in 1939.

2021·

0citations

·L. Reinders

Sun in a Bottle?... Pie in the Sky!

The Internal Temperature-Density Distribution of the Sun.

The internal temperature-density distribution of the Sun has been accurately determined using the point-convective model, with a hydrogen content of 35% by weight providing a good fit to the convective core and contributing 98% of total luminosity.

1941·

8citations

·G. Blanchet al.

The Astrophysical Journal

The photopause of the Sun

The Sun's core temperature is about 6000 K, and there is no evidence to support nuclear fusion as the source of its heat or power.

2018·

0citations

·W. Holland

Nanotechnology Perceptions

Temperature of the Solar Corona

The solar corona may maintain a temperature of 2,300,000° K by collisions of atoms accelerated from distant regions by the sun's gravitational field.

1943·

20citations

·V. Vand

Nature

Introduction to Solar Energy

The sun maintains its temperature of 5777 K due to continuous fusion reactions, with helium nucleus formation being the most important process for generating solar energy.

2021·

0citations

·S. N. Singhet al.

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