Determining the rotation law of the solar convection zone

The condition of minimum total dissipation is used to derive stationary rotation and azimuthal magnetic field distributions in the bulk of the solar convection zone with an upper boundary at which the relative radius is r/R=0.95. General equilibrium con figurations with symmetric and antisymmetric (about the equator) angular-velocity and field components are determined. The calculated rotation law matches the observed one in general parameters, but the decrease in angular velocity at high latitudes in theory is larger than that in observations. Besides, there are additional sharp variations in the rotation and field distributions in the theoretical curves near the generation zone of solar torsional waves. The possible cause of the latter discrepancy is discussed. The change in equilibrium distributions due to the presence of an inverse molecular-weight gradient at the base of the convection zone is also studied. This gradient is known to be produced by accelerated gravitational helium settling in the convection zone.