photosphere the helium fraction is reduced and the metallicity is only 84% of that in the protostellar phase (before

nuclear fusion in the core started). The protostellar Sun's composition was reconstructed as 71.1% hydrogen, 27.4% helium, and 1.5% metals.[85] In the inner portions of the Sun, nuclear fusion has modified the composition by converting hydrogen into helium, so the innermost portion of the Sun is now roughly 60% helium, with the metal abundance unchanged. Because the interior of the Sun is radiative, not convective (see Radiative zone above), none of the fusion products from the core have risen to the photosphere.[89] The reactive core zone of "hydrogen burning", where hydrogen is converted into helium, is starting to surround the core of "helium ash". This development will continue and will eventually cause the Sun to leave the main sequence, to become a red giant[90] The solar heavy-element abundances described above are typically measured both using spectroscopy of the Sun's photosphere and by measuring abundances in meteorites that have never been heated to melting temperatures. These meteorites are thought to retain the composition of the protostellar Sun and are thus not affected by settling of heavy elements. The two methods generally agree well.[15]

Singly ionized iron group elements

In the 1970s, much research focused on the abundances of iron group elements in the Sun.[91][92] Although significant research was done, the abundance determination of some iron group elements (e.g. cobalt and manganese) was still difficult at least as far as 1978 because of their hyperfine structures.[91]
Image taken by NASA STEREO probes launched in 2006; utilizing two spacecraft to image the Sun at the extreme UV wavelength (171 ).

The first largely complete set of oscillator strengths of singly ionized iron group elements were made available first in the 1960s,[93] and improved oscillator strengths were computed in 1976.[94] In 1978 the abundances of 'singly Ionized' elements of the iron group were derived.[91]

Solar and planetary mass fractionation relationship

Various authors have considered the existence of a mass fractionation relationship between the isotopic compositions of solar and planetary noble gases,[95] for example correlations between isotopic compositions of planetary and solar neon and xenon.[96] Nevertheless, the belief that the whole Sun has the same composition as the solar atmosphere was still widespread, at least until 1983.[97] In 1983, it was claimed that it was the fractionation in the Sun itself that caused the fractionation relationship between the isotopic compositions of planetary and solar wind implanted noble gases.[97]

Solar cycles