From core to envelope: Revealing the deep dynamics of stars with two convective zones

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Authors: S.N. Breton, A.S. Brun, R.A. García
Cited by: 1
References: 60

Abstract

On the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, F-type solar pulsators connect the Sun to intermediate-mass stars located on the instability strip. With respect to lower-mass stars, they are structurally peculiar in the sense that they are constituted of three distinct dynamical layers: a small convective core, a deep radiative interior, and a shallow convective envelope. Current asteroseismic techniques only provide limited information on the interior dynamics of these stars. Indeed only gravity modes ( g modes), for which unambiguous characterisation is lacking, are able to probe the deep stellar layers. A better understanding of the excitation and behaviour in F-type solar pulsators is therefore necessary in order to consider their detection. In this work, we simulate the global stellar structure of an F-type star (core, radiative interior, envelope) for the first time. We show that the contribution of the core strongly affects the spectrum of excited g modes, with low-order high-degree modes unable to form due to their interaction with the turbulent convection of the core. Finally, by computing the disc-integrated signature of the modes, we are able to demonstrate that they preserve their integrity up to the top of the convective envelope, which is a strong argument in favour of their detectability with space-borne photometry.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics Stellar planetary and galactic studies Scientific Research and Discoveries

Publication details

Journal / source
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publisher
EDP Sciences
Volume
710
Pages
A10–A10
Publication date
29 April 2026
Language
EN