Alladi Ramakrishnan Hall

Why do stars rotate differentially?

Bidya Binay Karak

High Altitude Observatory, Boulder, USA

Stars do not rotate like a solid body. For the Sun we know that the equator rotates faster than the higher latitudes. This type of rotation profile is called the solar-like differential rotation which has been observed in many stars. However, the opposite case where the equator rotates slower than the higher latitudes, referred to as the anti-solar differential rotation, is also possible. I shall discuss the origin of these types of differential rotations using global MHD simulations. Then I shall discuss how with the decrease of the Coriolis number the differentiation rotation changes from solar to anti-solar profiles. The influence of the dynamo-generated magnetic field will also be discussed.