Turbulence in stably stratified radiative zone

TL;DR

This paper investigates how stable stratification affects radial turbulent transport in stellar radiative zones, using numerical simulations to evaluate phenomenological models and understand turbulence driven by radial shear.

Contribution

It provides insights into the influence of stable stratification on turbulent transport in stellar radiative zones through numerical simulation analysis.

Findings

Stable stratification impacts radial turbulent transport regardless of turbulence driver.

Numerical simulations test and evaluate phenomenological models of turbulent transport.

Results are relevant for understanding turbulence mechanisms in stellar radiative zones.

Abstract

The topic of turbulent transport in a stellar radiative zone is vast and poorly understood. Many physical processes can potentially drive turbulence in stellar radiative zone but the limited observational constraints and the uncertainties in modelling turbulent transport make it difficult to identify the most relevant one. Here, we focus on the effect of stable stratification on the radial turbulent transport of chemicals and more particularly on the case where the turbulence is driven by a radial shear. Results of numerical simulations designed to test phenomenological models of turbulent transport will be presented. While this may appears little ambitious, stable stratification will influence the radial turbulent transport whatever the mechanism that drives the turbulent motions and the present considerations should be useful for these other mechanism too.