Open AccessDiffusion in stars: the case of gravity waves, rigid rotation and stable stratification
Author(s) -
Canuto V. M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2002.05962.x
Subject(s) - physics , differential rotation , tachocline , dimensionless quantity , stratification (seeds) , mechanics , rotation (mathematics) , instability , classical mechanics , astrophysics , stars , geometry , seed dormancy , germination , botany , mathematics , dormancy , biology
We study mixing in the tachocline in the presence of a source (gravity waves of power Π) and two sinks (rigid rotation Ω and stable stratification of strength ∇ ad −∇ > 0 ). The Reynolds stresses R ij are found to be proportional to ΠΩ −1 r ij , where the dimensionless tensor r ij may increase, decrease or saturate with Ω depending on the component ( ij ). The heat fluxes are found to be proportional to Π h i , where the dimensionless h r ,θ first decrease with Ω and then saturate while h θ always decreases with Ω. Numerical values of the momentum and heat diffusivities are derived and discussed. Future studies will include differential rotation, the μ‐barrier and meridional currents.