Supersonic convection in stellar interiors

According to the result of the numerical simulation on stellar convective envelopes by the traditional mixing length theory, supersonic convection would occur on the top of the convective regions of the yellow-and-red giants and supergiants. This, however, is not self-consistent with the local convection theory itself. This paper is devoted to analyze in details the origin of supersonic convection, and at the same time to present a plot of the supersonic convection region on the H-R diagram based on the evolutionary track of population I stars. The main results of this paper are as follows: in the process of evolution, (1) no supersonic convection occurs in low-mass stars; (2) for intermediate-mass stars, because of the ionization of hydrogen, the supersonic convection occurs chiefly in the region of 3.6< lgT_e <4.0, tilting from the lower left to the upper right on the H-R diagram and extending to the region of red giants for relatively massive stars; (3) for massive stars, the supersonic convection occurs after they deviate from ZAMS, the greater the stellar mass is, the earlier the supersonic convection emerges. For blue supergiants, the supersonic convection occurs at the absorbtion peak (lg T ∼5.3) of Fe and in the secondary ionization region of helium, but for the red- and yellow-giants and supergiants, it occurs in the ionization region of hydrogen.     

Local stellar stability. II

The existence proof of continuous spectra of eigenvaluess developed in the framework of the function space ofq-regularizations (Perdang, 1976) is extended in this paper by relaxing the severe restrictions previously imposed o the mathematical structure of the stellar stability equations. It is stressed that these local modes depend on the variable system in terms of which the linearized stellar structure equations are set up. We therefore search for a systematic procedure to select the most satisfactory system to analyze Local Stability. Our procedure is illustrated in great detail in the case of nonradial adiabatic stability. Moreover when applied to nonadiabatic perturbations it reveals the existence of two new types of local instability which seem to prevail in the majority of stars in a thermonuclear burning phase: (a) a nonrdial local secular instability; (b) a radial local nuclear instability. Numerical test calculations exhibit that the latter helps us to understand certain evolutionary features of stars, in particular it provides an interpretation of Hayashiet al.'s (1962) rule.     

Nonradial stellar oscillations excited by turbulent convection

The resonant excitation of the large-scale nonradial oscillations of a star by turbulent convection is considered. In the case of an incompressible inhomogeneous liquid sphere and a spherical shell we have demonstrated the excitation of oscillations and have obtained the explicit analytic expressions for the oscillation amplitudes. The effect of uniform axial rotation of a star upon the oscillations has also been considered. The estimates of the r.m.s. velocities of the excited quadrupole oscillations based on solar parameters do not contradict the observations of the 160 min. solar oscillations. Results are briefly discussed and applications are also made to the case of nonradial oscillations of outer convection zones of white dwarfs, Jupiter and Saturn.     

Efficient turbulent compressible convection in the deep stellar atmosphere

We report on an application of gas-kinetic BGK scheme to the computation of turbulent compressible convection in the stellar interior. After incorporating the Sub-grid Scale (SGS) turbulence model into the BGK scheme, we tested the effects of numerical parameters on the quantitative relationships among the thermodynamic variables, their fluctuations and correlations in a very deep, initially gravity-stratified stellar atmosphere. Comparison indicates that the thermal properties and dynamic properties are dominated by different aspects of numerical models separately. An adjustable Deardorff constant in the SGS model cμ = 0.25 and an amplitude of artificial viscosity in the gas-kinetic BGK scheme C2 = 0 are appropriate for the current study. We also calculated the density-weighted auto-and cross-correlation functions in Xiong's turbulent stellar convection theory based on which the gradient type of models of the non-local transport and the anisotropy of the turbulence were preliminarily studied. No universal relations or con-stant parameters were found for these models.     

Diamagnetic pumping near the base of a stellar convection zone

The property of inhomogeneous turbulence in conducting fluids to expel large‐scale magnetic fields in the direction of decreasing turbulence intensity is shown as important for the magnetic field dynamics near the base of a stellar convection zone. The downward diamagnetic pumping confines a fossil internal magnetic field in the radiative core so that the field geometry is appropriate for formation of the solar tachocline. For the stars of solar age, the diamagnetic confinement is efficient only if the ratio of turbulent magnetic diffusivity η_T of the convection zone to the (microscopic or turbulent) diffusivity η_in of the radiative interior is η_T/η_in ≥ 10⁵. Confinement in younger stars requires larger η_T/η_in. The observation of persistent magnetic structures on young solar‐type stars can thus provide evidence for the nonexistence of tachoclines in stellar interiors and on the level of turbulence in radiative cores. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dynamical evolution of rotating stellar systems – II. Post-collapse, equal-mass system

We present the first post-core-collapse models of initially rotating star clusters, using the numerical solution of an orbit-averaged 2D Fokker–Planck equation. Based on the code developed by Einsel & Spurzem, we have improved the speed and the stability and included the steady three-body binary heating source. We have confirmed that rotating clusters, whether they are in a tidal field or not, evolve significantly faster than non-rotating ones. Consequences for the observed shapes, density distribution and kinematic properties of young and old star clusters are discussed. The results are compared with gaseous and 1D Fokker–Planck models in the non-rotating case.     

The effect of convection in nonlinear one-zone stellar models

We study the convective nonlinear one-zone models of the pulsating variable stars. In the small convective case, the solution shows chaotic behavior through the period doubling bifurcation as the temperature is lower although the temperature at which the chaos appears is lower than in the case of no convection. On the other hand, in the strong convective case, the solution only shows period-one limit cycle.     

Polarimetric observations of blue FBS stellar objects. II

Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 36, No. 2 pp. 203–209, April–June 1993.     

A note on anisotropic convection and the rotation of stellar convective zones

The interaction of rotation and convection produces a latitude dependent anisotropic turbulent viscosity. When this friction is dominant, equilibrium of a convective outer layer of a star is achieved by an equatorial acceleration and a two-zone circulation, towards the equator at low surface latitudes.     

Collapse of the spherical stellar system

A new numerical method is proposed for solving the problems connected with the evolution of spherical clusters. The method is based upon the solution of the algebraic equations describing the motions of spherical shells.The stage of the collapse of a typical cluster is considered. The initial configuration is taken as a system with a uniform density distribution and with velocities much less than the virial ones. The model close to a stationary one has been obtained. The mass of the stationary cluster comprises about 60% of the initial one. The density distribution of the outer part of the cluster approximately corresponds to a profile of R ^–3.3.     

Highly excited hydrogen lines in stellar spectra. II

In the first part of the paper the shifts of the last visible balmer lines as a function of the gas density were predicted theoretically. Here spectroscopic research for these shifts is reported: 10A/mm^–1 spectra of six stars were examined and published material of other authors was also used.The shifts are of tenth Angström order of magnitude and they are used to measure the gas density in a well defined region of the stellar atmosphere. It is shown that usually there is no real coalescence of Balmer lines. The lack of Balmer lines with high main quantum number is explained adequately in most cases without Stark and Doppler effect. Evidence is given against using the Inglis-Teller formula because its physical foundation is inadequate. It gives false values in general.Stars with peculiar spectra—helium and carbon Wolf-Rayet stars—are briefly mentioned as well because the last visible Balmer-like line of Hei orCiv gives a density value in their atmospheres which is a useful first guess in understanding their spectra better.     

On convection in stellar atmospheres far from local thermodynamic equilibrium

Non-thermal effects generated by sub-photospheric convection are considered. It is shown that convective cells are destroyed by shocks generated when convective velocities reach the speed of sound. Terminologically this process is given the name of sonic-boom-interrupted convection. An estimate is made on the dependence of convective velocities on stellar parameters. It is suggested that the process being investigated could explain why some stars do not belong to any branch of the theoretical Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.     

Radial velocities of the components of Trapezium type multiple stellar systems. II

Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1994.