Solar opacities

Solar opacities are presented from the center of the Sun to the photosphere . The temperatures, densities and hydrogen mass fractions are taken from th e standard solar model. For the heavy element abundance the Grevesse mixtur e is used. In the solar interior photoabsorption is dominated by free-free absorption and we compare two sets of opacities based on two different mode ls for the inverse bremsstrahlung. The radiative luminosity calculated from the two sets of opacities are compared with those predicted by previous mo dels of the standard solar model and also with the known luminosity of the Sun. Pressures, specific heats and the speed of sound in the solar plasma a re also presented. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.