https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/Photons-ST-PO.pdfThe Convection Zone: The Mystery Layer
When the photons arrive at the convection layer,
150,000 km
below the sun’s surface, the nuclei are able to hold on to
electrons, and neutral atoms and ions are formed. And photon
energies have been degraded to the point that gaseous
atoms and ions absorb the energy of the photons and hold it,
rather than having it bounce off
(or be absorbed and re radiated).
These atoms effectively block the outward flow of radiative
energy and the energy absorbed by the atoms
makes them enormously hot.
At that point the convection currents take over and
carry
the sun’s energy to the photosphere on seething rivers of hot
gases. Although it may have taken the photons a million years
to reach the convection zone, the energy they deliver
rises through the entire convention zone in about three months.
All the energy emitted at the surface of the sun is
transported there by convection.
The Photosphere: Ah! Light At Last!
The photosphere, at the top of the convection zone, is the
visible bright surface of the sun.
Here the gaseous atoms no longer block radiative flow.
As the hot atoms cool, they release their excess energy once
again as photons that stream unimpeded into space and ultimately
provide support for life on Earththat makes sense.
as the hot atoms cool...
photons are emitted because of a continuous energy level
change from higher energy levels to lower energy levels.
and this process streams the spectrum.
not sure what happens to the atoms after they reach a
certain energy level..!!!
