What mechanism transfers energy across the radiative zone immediately surrounding the core?
Answer
Diffusion by radiation
After energy is created in the core, it begins its outward migration through the layers of the star, starting with the radiative zone which immediately envelops the core. In this dense environment, energy transport relies predominantly on radiation. Photons generated by fusion cannot travel far freely. Instead, they are frequently absorbed and then re-emitted by the surrounding charged particles in a complex, tortuous path, effectively diffusing the energy outward through a process known as diffusion by radiation.
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