On the Coupling between Helium Settling and Rotation‐induced Mixing in Stellar Radiative Zones. II. Numerical Approach

Abstract

In the first paper of this series, we discussed analytically, in an approximate way, the mixing processes that occur in slowly rotating stars when the feedback effects due to the diffusion-induced μ-gradients are introduced in the computations. We found that the classical scheme of meridional circulation was dramatically modified, with important possible consequences. Here we present a complete two-dimensional numerical simulation of these processes in a static stellar model. The helium microscopic diffusion and the meridional advection are computed simultaneously, so that we can follow the evolution of the abundances and mixing processes in the radiative zone. Most of the effects discussed in Paper I are confirmed. Some consequences will be discussed in Paper III.