Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-11-01
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted by Science, and available from Science Express online
Scientific paper
10.1126/science.1133065
Low-mass stars, ~1-2 solar masses, near the Main Sequence are efficient at producing He-3, which they mix into the convective envelope on the giant branch and should distribute into the Galaxy by way of envelope loss. This process is so efficient that it is difficult to reconcile the low observed cosmic abundance of He-3 with the predictions of both stellar and Big Bang nucleosynthesis. In this paper we find, by modeling a red giant with a fully three-dimensional hydrodynamic code and a full nucleosynthetic network, that mixing arises in the supposedly stable and radiative zone between the hydrogen-burning shell and the base of the convective envelope. This mixing is due to Rayleigh-Taylor instability within a zone just above the hydrogen-burning shell, where a nuclear reaction lowers the mean molecular weight slightly. Thus we are able to remove the threat that He-3 production in low-mass stars poses to the Big Bang nucleosynthesis of He-3.
Dearborn David S. P.
Eggleton Peter P.
Lattanzio John C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Deep Mixing of He-3: Reconciling Big Bang and Stellar Nucleosynthesis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Deep Mixing of He-3: Reconciling Big Bang and Stellar Nucleosynthesis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Deep Mixing of He-3: Reconciling Big Bang and Stellar Nucleosynthesis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-291398