Publication Date:
2019-08-27
Description:
In order to explore the ability of helioseismology and features of solar models to test the constancy of the gravitational constant G during the last 4.5 Gyr of solar evolution, we have constructed a grid of evolutionary sequences for solar models under the assumptions that G varies with time, and have explored the sensitivity of their nonradial acoustic mode oscillation spectra to G variability. All final models satisfy the standard constraints for the present Sun and, except for the variation in G, were constructed under the assumptions of a standard solar model. When compared with the observed solar p-mode spectrum, our models definitely rule out beta greater than 0.4 and beta less than -0.4, where G(t) proportional to t(exp -beta) over the last 4.5 Gyr. These limits can be tightened to rule out absolute value of beta greater than 0 (0.1) by the use of other solar observables. For nonmonotonic variation in G this suggests that long-timescale variations greater than 0 (5%) in G are ruled out over the last 4.5 Gyr. Future prospects for improving the sensitivity of helioseismic tests of a varying G are also discussed. Finally, we explore the sensitivity of the predicted solar neutrino flux to varying G.
Keywords:
SOLAR PHYSICS
Type:
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X); 437; 2; p. 870-878
Format:
text
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