Thermohaline mixing in low-mass giants: RGB and beyond

M. Cantiello, H. Hoekstra, N. Langer, A.J.T. Poelarends

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Thermohaline mixing has recently been proposed to occur in low mass red giants, with large consequence for the chemical yields of low mass stars.We investigate the role of thermohaline mixing during the evolution of stars between 1M⊙ and 3M⊙, in comparison to other mixing processes acting in these stars. We use a stellar evolution code which includes rotational mixing and internal magnetic fields.We confirm that thermohaline mixing has the potential to destroy most of the 3He which is produced earlier on the main sequence during the red giant stage, in stars below 1.5M⊙.We find this process to continue during core helium burning and beyond.We find rotational and magnetic mixing to be negligible compared to the thermohaline mixing in the relevant layers, even if the interaction of thermohaline motions with the differential rotation may be essential to establish the time scale of thermohaline mixing in red giants.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Title of host publicationUnsolved problems in stellar physics : a conference in honour of Douglas Gough : Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2-6 July 2007
EditorsRichard J. Stancliffe
Place of PublicationMelville, N.Y.
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics
Pages73-78
Number of pages464
ISBN (Print)9780735404625
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Publication series

NameAIP conference proceedings
Number948

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