A new approach to the solar oxygen abundance problem

Understand

In this work we present new data that sets strong constraints on the solar oxygen abundance.

• Our approach, based on the analysis of spectro-polarimetric observations, is almost model-independent and therefore extremely robust.
• The asymmetry of the Stokes V profile of the 6300 A [OI] and NiI blend is used as an indicator of the relative abundances of these two elements.
• The peculiar shape of the profile requires a value of EO = 730+/-100 ppm (parts per million), or logEO = 8.86+/-0.07 in the logarithmic scale commonly used in Astrophysics.