New gravity theory reveals hidden forces shaping the Sun's inner waves

A new study from Tezpur University has uncovered fresh insights into how gravity behaves inside the Sun. The research challenges traditional models by applying an alternative theory of gravity, revealing surprising effects on solar waves and energy flow. For decades, scientists have relied on Newton's gravity to explain the Sun's internal plasma waves, which carry energy and help keep the star stable. But a team led by Professor Pralay Kumar Karmakar from Tezpur University's physics department has now explored a different approach: Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld (EiBI) gravity. The study, titled Stability and Wave Dynamics in Polytropic Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld (EiBI) Gravitating Solar Plasmas, was accepted by Physical Review E, a journal of the American Physical Society. It examines how EiBI gravity alters wave behaviour under the Sun's extreme heat and density. The findings show that even minor shifts from standard gravity can change wave speeds and energy transport inside the Sun. Under EiBI gravity, these speeds can jump by up to 55 percent, leading to more stable solar oscillations and suggesting a stronger influence of modified gravity than previously thought. The research marks a step forward in solar physics by linking EiBI gravity to observable changes in the Sun's interior, which could help refine future models of stellar dynamics and energy flow. The study has been published in Physical Review E under the American Physical Society.