Understanding the Internal Chemical Composition and Physical Processes of the Solar Interior

Abstract

The Sun, the closest and most well studied of stars, is generally used as a standard that other stars are compared to. Models of the Sun are constantly tested with helioseismic data. These data allow us to probe the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun. Among the main sources of the data is the SOHO spacecraft that has been continuously observing the Sun for more than a solar cycle. Current solar models, although good, do not include all the physical processes that are present in the Sun. In this chapter we focus on specific inputs to solar models and discuss generally neglected dynamical physical processes whose inclusion could result in models that are much better representatives of the Sun.