John G. Mengel

Rotating solar models with low neutrino flux

The effect of rotation on the structure of the Sun throughout its evolution has been investigated in an effort to explain the low upper limit to the solar neutrino flux measured by Davis. A class of models has been found which produce a predicted neutrino capture rate in the vicinity of 1 SNU. Such models are characterized by a rotating interior which contains initially 0.9 M sub solar and which is progressively spun down until a rotating remnant core of the order of 0.1 M sub solar remains in the present Sun. The dependence of the neutrino flux on the mass in the remnant rotating core, the degree of rotation, the assumed law of spindown, and the mixing produced by meridional circulation have been investigated. Finally the oblateness of each rotating model has been calculated. (auth)