Which Layers of the Sun Emit Visible Light, UV, IR, and X-rays?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter jldibble
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Radiation Sun The sun
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The Sun's layers emit various types of radiation, with the photosphere being the primary source of visible light. Infrared (IR) radiation is also emitted from the photosphere, while ultraviolet (UV) radiation primarily originates from the chromosphere and the corona. X-rays are emitted from the corona, where high-energy particles interact and produce lower energy emissions. The energy produced by nuclear reactions in the Sun's interior begins as gamma rays, which scatter as they ascend through the layers, resulting in a black body spectrum at approximately 5500 degrees Celsius.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of solar structure and layers
  • Knowledge of electromagnetic spectrum terminology
  • Familiarity with nuclear fusion processes in stars
  • Basic principles of black body radiation
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of the solar corona and its role in X-ray emission
  • Study the mechanisms of photon scattering in stellar atmospheres
  • Learn about the chromosphere and its contribution to UV radiation
  • Explore the relationship between temperature and radiation types in stars
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, educators, and anyone interested in solar physics and the emission of radiation from stellar bodies.

jldibble
Messages
50
Reaction score
0
I'm trying to figure out which layers of the sun emit different types of radiation

For instance; I know that most of the visible light is emitted from the photosphere but what about IR, UV, x-ray, etc...?

Anyone know?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
This article discusses the layers and what is emitted from some of them:

http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/interior.shtml

It appears that higher energy particles come from the interior and as they exit through the other layers interact and produce lower energy particles so your question of what layers emit what particles may be more nuanced than you expect.
 
The energy of the sun is born from nuclear reactions deep in the interior. The photons start out in the gamma ray energy range. As the photons work their way to the surface, they undergo many scatterings before they escape. The net result is a black body spectrum of approximately 5500 deg. C.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Graduate Nature of radiation emanating from a body v/s frequency
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Nuclear reactions in the Sun and other topics on stars
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
5K
Undergrad Interaction of EM radiation with Glass
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
High School Contradictions in the Distribution of Gamma-Ray Bursts
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
1K
High School Do emission nebula glow because of ionised or excited electrons?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients (LFBOTs)
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
479
High School Visible Light Through a Wormhole
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Is all EM radiation light?
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
Undergrad Some questions about absorption lines
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad What do high-mass X-ray binaries, or HMXBs, tell us?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K