Semiconvection

F. Zaussinger, H. C. Spruit

Published 2010-12-28, updated 2011-02-02Version 2

A grid of numerical simulations of double-diffusive convection is presented for astrophysical conditions. As in laboratory and geophysical cases convection takes place in a layered form. A translation between the astrophysical fluid mechanics and incompressible (Boussinesq) approximation is given, valid for thin layers. Its validity is checked by comparison of the results of fully compressible and Boussinesq simulations of semiconvection. A fitting formula is given for the superadiabatic gradient as a function of this parameter. The superadiabaticity depends on the thickness $d$ of the double diffusive layers, for which no good theory is available, but the effective He-diffusion coefficient is nearly independent of $d$. For a fiducial main sequence model (15 $M_\odot$) the inferred mixing time scale is of the order $10^{10}$ yr.