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magnetar
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what is the percentage of heavy element (heavier than helium) of the sun? (not the photospheric composition)
A heavy element is any element with an atomic number greater than 92 (uranium). These elements are typically produced through nuclear reactions and have a larger number of protons and neutrons in their nucleus compared to lighter elements.
The percentage of heavy elements in the sun is determined through spectroscopy, which involves analyzing the light emitted by the sun and identifying the specific wavelengths that correspond to different elements. By comparing the intensities of these wavelengths, scientists can calculate the abundance of different elements in the sun, including heavy elements.
The estimated percentage of heavy elements in the sun is around 2%. This means that out of all the elements present in the sun, 2% of them are considered heavy elements.
No, heavy elements are not evenly distributed throughout the sun. They tend to be more concentrated in the core of the sun, where the temperatures and pressures are high enough to facilitate nuclear reactions that produce heavy elements. However, they can also be found in the sun's outer layers, just in lower concentrations.
The percentage of heavy elements in the sun is considered relatively low compared to other stars. This is because the sun is a relatively average-sized star and was formed from the same cloud of gas and dust as other stars in our galaxy. Larger stars tend to have a higher percentage of heavy elements due to their greater ability to produce them through nuclear reactions.