Convection Theory and Relevant Problems in Stellar Structure, Evolution, and Pulsational Stability I Convection Theory and Structure of Convection Zone and Stellar Evolution

A non-local and time-dependent theory of convection was briefly described. This theory was used to calculate the structure of solar convection zones, the evolution of massive stars, lithium depletion in the atmosphere of the Sun and late-type dwarfs, and stellar oscillations (in Part Ⅱ). The results show that: 1) the theoretical turbulent velocity and temperature fields in the atmosphere and the thermal structure of the convective envelope of the Sun agree with the observations and inferences from helioseismic inversion very well. 2) The so-called semi-convection contradiction in the evolutionary calculations of massive stars was removed automatically, as predicted by us. The theoretical evolution tracks of massive stars run at higher luminosity and the main sequence band becomes noticeably wider in comparison with those calculated using the local mixing-length theory (MLT). This means that the evolutionary mass for a given luminosity was overestimated and the width of the main sequence band was underestimated by the local MLT, which may be part of the reason for the contradiction between the evolutionary and pulsational masses of Cepheid variables and the contradiction between theoretical and observed distributions of luminous stars in the H-R diagram. 3) The predicted lithium depletion, in general, agrees well with the observation of the Sun and Galactic open clusters of different ages. 4) Our theoretical results for non-adiabatic oscillations are in good agreement with the observed mode instability from classic variables of high-luminosity red giants. Almost all the instability strips of the classical pulsating variables (including the Cepheid, δ Scuti, γ Doradus, βCephei, and SPB strips) were reproduced (Part Ⅱ).

Globular clusters and the evolution of their multiple stellar populations

Our knowledge of the formation and early evolution of globular clusters (GCs) has been totally shaken with the discovery of the peculiar chemical properties of their long-lived host stars. Therefore, the interpretation of the observed Colour Magnitude Diagrams (CMD) and of the properties of the GC stellar populations requires the use of new stellar models computed with relevant chemical compositions. In this paper we use the grid of evolution models for low-mass stars computed by Chantereau et al. (2015) with the initial compositions of second-generation stars as predicted by the fast rotating massive stars scenario to build synthesis models of GCs. We discuss the implications of the assumed initial chemical distribution on 13 Gyr isochrones. We build population synthesis models to predict the fraction of stars born with various helium abundances in present day globular clusters (assuming an age of 13 Gyr). With the current assumptions, 61 % of stars on the main sequence are predicted to be born with a helium abundance in mass fraction, Yini, smaller than 0.3 and only 11 % have a Yini larger than 0.4. Along the horizontal branch, the fraction of stars with Yini inferior to 0.3 is similar to that obtained along the main sequence band (63 %), while the fraction of very He-enriched stars is significantly decreased (only 3 % with Yini larger than 0.38).

Magnetic main sequence stars as progenitors of blue supergiants

Blue supergiants (BSGs) to the right the main sequence band in the HR diagram can not be reproduced by standard stellar evolution calculations. We investigate whether a reduced convective core mass due to strong internal magnetic fields during the main sequence might be able to recover this population of stars. We perform calculations with a reduced mass of the hydrogen burning convective core of stars in the mass range 3–30 M⊙ in a parametric way, which indeed lead to BSGs. It is expected that these BSGs would still show large scale magnetic fields in the order of 10 G.

The Eclipsing Triple System U Ophiuchi Revisited

We have redetermined the absolute dimensions of the mid B-type eclipsing binary U Oph from new light and radial-velocity curves, accounting for both the apsidal motion and the light-time orbit around the third star. The stars in U Oph have masses of 5.27 and 4.74 M⊙(±1.5%) and are located in the middle of the main-sequence band for an an age of ∼50 Myr. U Oph and three other systems (V760 Sco, MU, Cas and DI Her) all have components within 10% of 5M⊙ and ages below 100 Myr; we find significant heavy-element abundance differences between these young nearby stars.

Observation of the 4f 3dσ transition of the ArH molecule

The emission spectrum of ArH contains a band near 10 110 cm–1 that appears to be the analogue of the 3dσ – 4p, v = 0 – 0, band of ArD, observed and analysed near 10 230 cm–1. However, previous attempts to assign the rotational structure of this band of ArH were unsuccessful. Here we observe and analyse the 4f – 3dσ band of ArH near 4400 cm–1, and are then able to calculate the rotational structure of the 3dσ – 4p transition entirely from known data. The observed band is similar but not identical to the calculated band. We speculate that the observed spectrum is a v – v sequence band of 3dσ – 4p, where the v [Formula: see text] 0 upper state is populated through some mechanism peculiar to this isotopomer. PACS No.: 33.20