A finite volume code for meridional circulation in stars

To understand the driving of both meridional circulation and differential rotation in radiative envelopes of stars, one has to solve for 3D mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations for a compressible gas in a central gravity field. In this study, we propose a novel finite volume technique that uses Cartesian geometry thus reducing greatly the complexity of spherical operators. The boundary conditions are efficiently imposed at the surface of the star using the fictitious points technique. We use the anelastic approximation and the Poisson equation for pressure is solved by the Jacobi method which preserves natural symmetries. We present analytical test cases of the fictitious domain technique, and show our results of asymptotic circulation in a model with little stratification and a large viscosity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.