Gradient Of Mean Molecular Weight Research Articles

Criterion for convection in an inhomogeneous star

To resolve the question of whether the Schwarzschild criterion or the Ledoux criterion should be used to test for convective instability in a star, a well-observed cluster of chemically inhomogeneous massive stars, in which the choice of the criterion for convection makes a crucial and easily observable difference, is required. NGC 330, a metal-poor cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud, is ideal for this test. Its large evolved stellar population contains both blue and red supergiants, of which its many red supergiants should be absent if a gradient of mean molecular weight did not choke off rapid convective motions in the inhomogeneous region connecting the envelope and core. Thus the Ledoux criterion for convection is strongly indicated as being correct.

Asymptotic properties of low degree gravity modes

Asymptotic properties of low degree gravity modes and their relation to the stratification of the model through the Brunt-Väissälä frequency are discussed for a solar type model and for a 10 M⊙ model. For the solar model, taking into account the quasiadiabaticity of the solar convection zone, it is shown that two global constraints on the deep interior of the solar model can be derived from a set of g-modes periods in the observed range. However modes with large periods, i.e. larger than those up to now observed, are required to obtain informations on the stratification just below the convection zone. For the 10 M⊙ model, the preliminary results show that the existence of a layer with a large mean molecular weight gradient destroys the equidistance of the periods of gravity modes of a given degree and that some informations on the properties of this layer can be obtained from the analysis of the g-modes periods.

Meridional circulation in rotating stars. VII - The effects of chemical inhomogeneities

In this paper we discuss the effects of a gradient of mean molecular weight ..mu.. on the rotationally driven currents that pervade the radiative zone of a single, nonmagnetic, main-sequence star. Detailed numerical calculations are made for the hydrogen-burning core of a solar-type star, assuming that departures from spherical symmetry are not too large. It is found that meridional streaming virtually dies out from the center outward as the ..mu..-gradient grows in a leisurely fashion. This prevents a substantial mixing of matter between the inner (inhomogeneous) and outer (homogeneous) regions in the radiative zone, although the inner region may be penetrated to some degree. To first order in the ratio of the centrifugal force to gravity at the equator, this pattern of circulation is independent of the mean angular velocity. To this order, then, there is no critical rotation rate above which unimpeded mixing may take place. These quantitative results are compared with diverse statements that can be found in the phenomenological literature on rotational mixing.

Stellar evolution with turbulent diffusion mixing in low mass stars and 12C/13C ratio in giants of the first ascending branch

We consider stellar evolution in low mass stars (1–3 Mo) near the main sequence with the hypothesis that mild turbulence is present within the all star. Turbulent transport of the elements is modeled by diffusion equations where the diffusion coefficient is chosen to be D = R✶eν where ν is the kinematical viscosity and R✶e is a Reynolds number. We consider the effects of the growth of the gradient of the mean molecular weight on turbulence. The main consequences of diffusion on stellar evolution are (1) an increase of the life time near the main sequence and (2) a change of the radial distributions of chemical species (12C, 13C, 14N, 160) (figure 1). The inhibition of the turbulence, when the gradient of mean molecular weight reaches a certain critical value, allows the evolution towards the red giant branch. When stars evolve towards the giant branch, chemical species are dredged up to the surface. At this stage models with and without diffusion, predict substantially different surface abundances (in particular the 12C/13C and C/N ratios). Comparison between models and the available data on giants during the first dredge-up show that abundance anomalies can be explained if turbulent mixing is present during the main sequence phase (figure 2).

Stellar evolution at high mass with semiconvective mixing according to the Ledoux criterion

The effects of semiconvective mixing are investigated in evolutionary sequences of models for stars of 10, 15, and 30 solar masses with four different initial chemical compositions. The models are constructed using the Ledoux criterion for both the definition of convective instability and the state of convective neutrality assumed to be attained in regions with a gradient of mean molecular weight. It is shown that semiconvection is nonexistent at 10 solar masses, of minor importance at 15 solar masses, but covers most of the intermediate zone at 30 solar masses, developing into full convection if the initial hydrogen and metals abundances are high. The effects of low initial hydrogen and metals abundances are examined, and the critical importance is demonstrated of the depths of the semiconvective zone and the outer convective envelope in promoting a blue loop and determining the maximum effective temperature on the loop. The extent of the thermally stable stages of the blue-loop phase is determined.

Internal Structure of Very Massive Stars

Models are computed for stars (M = 46.8M sub solar ) consisting of four regions: a homogeneous radiative envelope, a semiconvective intermediate zone, a radiative intermediate zone, and a homogeneous convective core. The semiconvective intermediate zone is formed in the consequence of growing convective instability which is characteristic in very massive stars, and the distribution of composition in this region is determined so as to maintain the convective neutrality taking account of the effect of the gradient of mean molecular weight. It is shown that the very massive stars evolve essentially in the same way as less massive stars in their early phase, and the growing convective instability has little influence on the effective temperature and luminosity of stars.