Helioseismology and screening of nuclear reactions in the Sun

We show that models for screening of nuclear reactions in the Sun can be tested by means of helioseismology. As well known, solar models using the weak screening factors are in agreement with data. We find that the solar model calculated with the antiscreening factors of Tsytovich is not consistent with helioseismology, both for the sound speed profile and for the depth of the convective envelope. Moreover, the difference between the no-screening and weak screening model is significant in comparison with helioseismic uncertainty. In other words, the existence of screening can be proved by means of helioseismology. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.