# Fun with LaTeX

Here’s a quick diagram of the interior of a Sun-like star I used in a presentation not so long ago.

The picture was generated with a bit of LaTeX code.  Here it is:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{pstricks}
\usepackage{pst-plot}
\usepackage{pst-coil}
\usepackage{pst-node}
\usepackage{pst-slpe}
\usepackage{multido}
\begin{document}

\psset{unit=1.2,yunit=1.2cm,xunit=1.2cm,algebraic}
\begin{pspicture*}(-1,-1)(5,4.7)

% Star

\pscustom[fillstyle=ccslope,slopecenter=0 0,slopebegin=yellow!30,slopeend=red!10!orange!60,linestyle=none]{\pswedge(0,0){4.5}{0}{90}}

% Core
\pscustom[fillstyle=ccslope,slopecenter=0 0,slopebegin=yellow!2,slopeend=orange!10,linestyle=none]{%
\pswedge(0,0){1.35}{0}{90}}

\SpecialCoor

\multido{\iA=5+15}{6}{\pnode(1.4;\iA){A}\pnode(3.15;\iA){B}\ncsin[linewidth=0.1pt,amplitude=0.05,periods=4,coilarm=0pt,function=dup 0.1 mul sin exch sin add]{A}{B}}

% Convective zone lines

\multido{\iB=7+15}{6}{\rput{\iB}(3.25;\iB){\pccurve[angleA=-70, angleB=250,linewidth=0.25pt,ArrowInside=->,ArrowInsideNo=3]{->}(0,0)(1.2,0)}
\rput{\iB}(3.25;\iB){\pccurve[angleA=110, angleB=70,linewidth=0.25pt,ArrowInside=->,ArrowInsideNo=3]{->}(1.2,0)(0,0)}}

% Axes and labels

\psaxes[labelFontSize=\scriptscriptstyle,labels=y,ticks=y,Dy=0.2,dy=0.9,linewidth=0.25pt,ticksize=-3pt 0]{-}(0,0)(4.5,4.5)
\tiny \rput[l](0.15,-0.3){Core}
\rput[l](3.2,-0.4){\parbox{1cm}{\centering Convective \\ Zone}}
\end{pspicture*}

\end{document}

1. Thank you so much Dr A. Jannetta. I will be indicate you on my thesis. I will include this modify picture as it on the text. Cheers!

You’re very welcome Bruno. Good luck with your thesis!

I’ll try to help. Some of the packages may not be installed in LaTeX distribution by default (e.g. pst-slpe). You should check. Take a look at the .log file generated when you compile and look for errors in there. If you’d prefer to correspond by email – you can reach me on adrian@themoon.co.uk.

Also, make sure your compiling like this.

>> latex sun.tex
>> dvips sun.dvi
>> ps2pdf sun.ps

So LaTeX > DVI > Postscript > PDF.

It also compiles to PDF with XeLaTeX:

>> xelatex sun.tex

Hope that helps!