[Physics] Is Sun brighter than what we actually see

astrophysicsplasma-physicsradiationthermal-radiation

I learned from that plasma can reflect radiations of frequency less than that of its own oscillations. If so, considering the plasma in Sun's atmosphere, it should also reflect solar radiations.

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That would mean that the radiation emitted from the inner layers of the Sun would be reflected back by the outer layers. So, the only radiation coming out should be the ones generated at the outer layers, for which there is no denser layers of plasma surrounding it. And of course, the ones that have higher frequencies than the plasma in each layer would come out unscathed.

If this is true, most of the radiation generated by fusion will be trapped inside, and what we observe is only a fraction.

Note that the intensity of observable radiation coming out from stars would now mostly depend on the outermost layer. So, wouldn't it be inappropriate to consider stars as Black bodies while determining their temperature and other properties? Is Sun brighter and hotter than what we see from outside?

Best Answer

Note that the intensity of observable radiation coming out from stars would now mostly depend on the outermost layer.

Because the material in the star is opaque, it completely depends on the outermost layer. Of course the properties of that layer (such as its temperature) are driven by the energy coming from the interior.

So, wouldn't it be inappropriate to consider stars as Black bodies while determining their temperature and other properties?

It is appropriate for an object that has a spectrum that closely matches a blackbody spectrum. However the only property that describes is the temperature of the visible layer. It doesn't imply anything about the interior and processes that produce and distribute energy. You shouldn't read blackbody and think that means that the (invisible) interior is simple or in some way similar to the exterior.

The sun's interior is much hotter than the exterior (around 15 million Kelvin in the core, compared to the 6000 Kelvin or so at the photosphere). Because it is not visible, I would hesitate to call it "brighter". But you could consider it that way.