What mechanism defines energy transport within the stellar radiative zone?
Answer
Transfer via electromagnetic waves (photons)
The defining characteristic of the radiative zone is the method by which energy moves outward from the core. This transfer relies entirely on radiation, which involves the emission and subsequent absorption and re-emission of photons, or light quanta. Unlike convection, where matter physically churns, this process involves electromagnetic waves navigating the incredibly dense plasma. A photon travels only a short distance, often just a millimeter, before being absorbed by an atom or ion, which then excites and re-emits a new photon, frequently in a random direction, thereby characterizing the slow outward journey.
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