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

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.

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