English

Can pulsational instabilities impact a massive star's rotational evolution?

Astrophysics 2009-11-13 v1

Abstract

We investigate whether angular momentum transport due to unstable pulsation modes can play a significant role in the rotational evolution of massive stars. We find that these modes can redistribute appreciable angular momentum, and moreover trigger shear-instability mixing in the molecular weight gradient zone adjacent to stellar cores, with significant evolutionary impact.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0803.0347,
  title  = {Can pulsational instabilities impact a massive star's rotational evolution?},
  author = {Rich Townsend and Jim MacDonald},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0803.0347},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

6 pages, to appear in Proc. IAU Symposium 250: Massive Stars as Cosmic Engines

R2 v1 2026-06-21T10:18:00.253Z