Frequency separation variations of the solar low-degree p-modes

TL;DR

This study analyzes how the frequency separations of low-degree solar p-modes vary over the solar activity cycle, revealing small but significant shifts potentially linked to surface activity or internal processes.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the variations of solar p-mode frequency separations and their relation to solar activity, using GONG data and considering different phases of the solar cycle.

Findings

Large separations vary less than 1 sigma over the cycle

Small separations show systematic shifts during 2004-2007

Ratios of small to large separations follow small separation changes

Abstract

Variations of frequency separations of low-degree p-modes are studied over the solar activity cycle. The separations studied are obtained from the frequencies of low-degree p-modes of the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG). 10.7 cm radio flux is used as an index of solar activity. Small separations of the p-mode frequencies are considered to be mainly dependent on the conditions in stellar interiors. Thus they could be applied to diagnose the changes in the stellar interior. Our calculation results show that the magnitudes of variations of the mean large separations are less than 1 $\sigma$ over the solar activity cycle. Small separations show different behaviors in the ascending and descending phases of activity. In the ascending phase, variations of the small separations are less than 1 $\sigma$. However, the small separations have systematic shifts during 2004 - 2007. The shifts are roughly 1 $\sigma$ or more. The variations of the ratios of the small to large separations with time are similar to the changes of the small separations. The effects of the changes in the large separations on the ratios are negligible. The variations of the separations may be a consequence of the influence from the surface activity or systematic errors in measurements or some processes taking place in the solar interior.