Hydrodynamic Processes in Massive Stars

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding hydrodynamic processes in massive stars through multi-dimensional simulations, aiming to improve stellar evolution models by addressing complex turbulent plasma behaviors.

Contribution

It presents new multi-dimensional simulation results that enhance the modeling of hydrodynamic processes in massive star interiors, challenging traditional one-dimensional approaches.

Findings

Multi-dimensional simulations reveal complex turbulent behaviors.

Results suggest significant revisions to stellar evolution models.

Enhanced understanding of transport and mixing in stellar interiors.

Abstract

The hydrodynamic processes operating within stellar interiors are far richer than represented by the best stellar evolution model available. Although it is now widely understood, through astrophysical simulation and relevant terrestrial experiment, that many of the basic assumptions which underlie our treatments of stellar evolution are flawed, we lack a suitable, comprehensive replacement. This is due to a deficiency in our fundamental understanding of the transport and mixing properties of a turbulent, reactive, magnetized plasma; a deficiency in knowledge which stems from the richness and variety of solutions which characterize the inherently non-linear set of governing equations. The exponential increase in availability of computing resources, however, is ushering in a new era of understanding complex hydrodynamic flows; and although this field is still in its formative stages, the sophistication already achieved is leading to a dramatic paradigm shift in how we model astrophysical fluid dynamics. We highlight here some recent results from a series of multi-dimensional stellar interior calculations which are part of a program designed to improve our one-dimensional treatment of massive star evolution and stellar evolution in general.