Fluctuations of density and waves in nonlinear nuclear reactions in stellar cores

Abstract

The space correlation of fluctuation of density in the nuclear reaction system inside the stars is investigated by using the theory of a generating function. Referring to the dynamical rate equation, we have introduced the gravitational force and temperature gradient terms into master equation of the probability distribution function of density, and a generalized master equation has been obtained. We take P-PI reactions of hydrogen-burning in the solar core as an example to solve this master equation for infinite medium. A series of waves have been obtained. The first branch is the average density wave which has already been obtained from the dynamical rate equation. Other branches describe the propagation of the fluctuation moments of the local density. They represent the propagation processes of the local distortion of the probability distribution function. Stability of the system may be related to an increase and decay of the waves. We have analysed the phase velocity of these waves.