articleThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement SeriesFeb 23, 2023GOLD OA

Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Time-dependent Convection, Energy Conservation, Automatic Differentiation, and Infrastructure

ASAdam S. JermynEBEvan B. BauerJSJosiah SchwabRFR. FarmerWHWarrick H. Ball

Flatiron Health (United States) · Flatiron Institute · +27 more institutions

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Abstract

Abstract We update the capabilities of the open-knowledge software instrument Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics ( MESA ). The new auto _ diff module implements automatic differentiation in MESA , an enabling capability that alleviates the need for hard-coded analytic expressions or finite-difference approximations. We significantly enhance the treatment of the growth and decay of convection in MESA with a new model for time-dependent convection, which is particularly important during late-stage nuclear burning in massive stars and electron-degenerate ignition events. We strengthen MESA ’s implementation of the equation of state, and we quantify continued improvements to energy accounting and…

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Physics
  • Stars
  • Convection
  • Opacity
  • Solver
  • Astrophysics
  • Radiative transfer
  • Computational physics
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Industry, innovation and infrastructure
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