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SUMMARY:Composition gradients and convection in dense astrophysical object
 s: anti-diffusive dynamics in giant planets and white dwarfs - Andrew Cumm
 ing (McGill University)
DTSTART:20240528T103000Z
DTEND:20240528T113000Z
UID:TALK217171@talks.cam.ac.uk
DESCRIPTION:I will discuss two examples from astrophysics in which composi
 tion gradients and convection interact to give anti-diffusive dynamics: th
 e evolving composition profile of Jupiter's interior and crystallization-d
 riven fingering convection in white dwarfs. They are motivated by recent o
 bservational results - the inferred density profile of Jupiter from the Ju
 no mission\, and new results on cooling white dwarfs from Gaia. For Jupite
 r\, I will show results from Boussinesq simulations of penetrative convect
 ion and layer formation at Prandtl number<1\, and discuss the implications
  for evolutionary models of Jupiter. These simulations suggest that rotati
 on acts to significantly reduce the efficiency with which heavy elements c
 an be mixed into the convection zone. For white dwarfs\, I will discuss th
 e regime of convection driven by chemical separation during crystallizatio
 n. The large thermal conductivity of the white dwarf generally leads to fi
 ngering/thermohaline convection with up-gradient heat transport. I will sh
 ow the current state of evolutionary models and (Boussinesq) simulations o
 f this kind of convection\, and discuss whether white dwarf magnetic field
 s could originate from a crystallization-driven dynamo similar to Earth's 
 core.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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