Gaidos, Eric J. and Güdel, Manuel and Blake, Geoffrey A. (2000) The Faint Young Sun Paradox: An Observational Test of an Alternative Solar Model. Geophysical Research Letters, 27 (4). pp. 501-503. ISSN 0094-8276. doi:10.1029/1999GL010740. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120914-103011820
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Abstract
We report the results of deep observations at radio (3.6 cm) wavelengths of the nearby solar‐type star π^01 Ursa Majoris with the Very Large Array (VLA) intended to test an alternative theory of solar luminosity evolution. The standard model predicts a solar luminosity only 75% of the present value and surface temperatures below freezing on Earth and Mars at 4 Ga, seemingly in conflict with geologic evidence for liquid water on these planets. An alternative model invokes a compensatory mass loss through a declining solar wind that results in a more consistent early luminosity. The free‐free emission from an enhanced wind around nearby young Sun‐like stars should be detectable at microwave frequencies. Our observations of π^01 UMa, a 300 million year‐old solar‐mass star, place an upper limit on the mass loss rate of 4–5 × 10^(−11) M_⊙ yr^(−1). Total mass loss from such a star over 4 Gyr would be less than 6%. If this star is indeed an analog of the early Sun, it casts doubt on the alternative model as a solution to the faint young Sun paradox, particularly for Mars.
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Additional Information: | © 2000 American Geophysical Union. Received 24 September 1999; accepted 27 October 1999. E.J.G. is supported by the NASA Astrobiology program. G.A.B. acknowledges support from the NASA Exobiology program. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. The SIMBAD database is maintained by the Centre Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, France. | ||||||
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Issue or Number: | 4 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1029/1999GL010740 | ||||||
Record Number: | CaltechAUTHORS:20120914-103011820 | ||||||
Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20120914-103011820 | ||||||
Official Citation: | Gaidos, E. J., M. Güdel, and G. A. Blake (2000), The Faint Young Sun Paradox: An observational test of an alternative solar model, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27(4), 501–503, doi:10.1029/1999GL010740. | ||||||
Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | ||||||
ID Code: | 34090 | ||||||
Collection: | CaltechAUTHORS | ||||||
Deposited By: | INVALID USER | ||||||
Deposited On: | 14 Sep 2012 19:11 | ||||||
Last Modified: | 09 Nov 2021 23:06 |
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