Open AccessTime‐dependent diffusion in stellar atmospheres
Author(s) -
Alecian G.,
Stift M. J.,
Dorfi E. A.
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.19547.x
Subject(s) - physics , stellar atmosphere , stars , diffusion , astrophysics , atomic diffusion , field (mathematics) , abundance (ecology) , abundance of the chemical elements , thermodynamics , mathematics , fishery , biology , pure mathematics
The chemical peculiarities of Ap stars are due to abundance stratifications produced by atomic diffusion in their outer layers. Theoretical models can predict such stratifications, but so far only provide equilibrium solutions which correspond to the maximum depth‐dependent abundances for each element that can be supported by the radiation field. However, these stratifications are actually built up through a non‐linear, time‐dependent process which has never been modelled for realistic stellar atmospheres. Here, we present the first numerical simulations of time‐dependent diffusion. We solve the continuity equation after having computed, as accurately as possible, atomic diffusion velocities (with and without a magnetic field) for a simplified fictitious – but still realistic – chemical element: cloudium. The direct comparison with existing observations is not the immediate aim of this work but rather a general understanding of how the stratification build‐up proceeds in time and space. Our results raise serious questions as to the relevance of equilibrium solutions and reinforce the suspicion that certain accumulations of chemical elements might prove unstable.