From the Sun to solar-like stars: how does the solar modelling problem affect our studies of solar-like oscillators?

TL;DR

The paper reviews the solar modelling problem, its impact on helioseismology and asteroseismology, and discusses recent findings, uncertainties, and potential solutions affecting stellar and exoplanet studies.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the solar modelling problem's implications for asteroseismology and discusses recent helioseismic results and possible resolutions.

Findings

Recent helioseismic inversions reveal persistent discrepancies in solar models.

The solar modelling problem affects the accuracy of stellar parameter estimations.

Potential solutions include revised opacities and improved physical inputs.

Abstract

Since the first observations of solar oscillations in 1962, helioseismology has probably been one of the most successful fields of astrophysics. Besides the improvement of observational data, solar seismologists developed sophisticated techniques to infer the internal structure of the Sun. Back in 1990s these comparisons showed a very high agreement between solar models and the Sun. However, the downward revision of the CNO surface abundances in the Sun in 2005, confirmed in 2009, induced a drastic reduction of this agreement leading to the so-called solar modelling problem. More than ten years later, in the era of the space-based photometry missions which have established asteroseismology of solar-like stars as a standard approach to obtain their masses, radii and ages, the solar modelling problem still awaits a solution. We will briefly present the results of new helioseismic inversions, discuss the current uncertainties of solar models and possible solutions to the solar modelling problem. We will also discuss how the solar problem can have significant implications for asteroseismology as a whole by discussing the modelling of the exoplanet-host star Kepler-444, thus impacting the fields requiring a precise and accurate knowledge of stellar masses, radii and ages, such as Galactic archaeology and exoplanetology.