Angular momentum transport in the convection zone of a 3D MHD simulation of a rapidly rotating core-collapse progenitor

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic angular momentum transport in a 3D MHD simulation of a rapidly rotating massive star's core, revealing new insights into the process and proposing a novel 1D model.

Contribution

It introduces the first 1D model of magnetic angular momentum transport based on 3D simulation data, accounting for inward flux and improving stellar evolution modeling.

Findings

Magnetic angular momentum transport relates to the Rossby number of the convective shell.

Magnetic energy depends on rotation and nuclear energy generation.

The 1D model reproduces 3D results and includes inward angular momentum flux.

Abstract

Rotation and magnetic fields in the cores of evolved massive stars in their final phase are thought to play an important role in the subsequent supernova explosion and the formation of a compact object, especially in hyperenergetic explosions. However, the interplay between rotation, magnetic fields, and convection up to the final collapse is a nonlinear, multidimensional effect that is difficult to capture with standard one-dimensional (1D) stellar evolution models. We quantify the magnetic angular momentum (AM) transport in the convective oxygen burning shell in a three-dimensional (3D) rotating core-collapse progenitor model. We find that the radial direction of magnetic AM transport is directly related to the Rossby number of the convective oxygen shell. We also analyze the magnetic energy, which sets the amplitude of the magnetic AM flux. The magnetic energy is determined both by rotation and the nuclear energy generation rate analogously to low-mass stars like the Sun. Based on these results, we construct a 1D model of magnetic AM transport in the convection zone for the first time in terms of properties of a given stellar evolution model. This model successfully reproduces the AM transport in the 3D model when the convective dynamo is in a quasi-steady state. Notably, our model for radial AM transport is the first to account for inward AM flux. This may result in interesting differences compared to the conventional treatment of magnetic AM transport in stellar evolution models, which assume AM is transported outward by a purely diffusive process.