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A&A 444, L45-L48 (2005)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200500206

Letter

The Ne/O abundance ratio in the quiet Sun

P. R. Young

CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
    e-mail: p.r.young@rl.ac.uk

(Received 6 October 2005 / Accepted 26 October 2005 )

Abstract
Aims.To determine the neon-to-oxygen abundance in the quiet Sun, a proxy for the photospheric abundance ratio.
Methods.An emission measure method applied to extreme ultraviolet emission lines of Ne IV-VI and O III-V ions observed by the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer on the SOHO satellite.
Results.The average Ne/O abundance ratio in supergranule cell centre regions is , while in supergranule network regions is . A photospheric Ne/O ratio of is suggested, in good agreement with the most recent compilation of solar photospheric abundances, but discrepant with a recent Ne/O ratio derived from stellar X-ray spectra and revised neon abundances suggested from solar interior models.

© ESO 2005

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