[mesa-users] How does MLT handle core convection?

[Josh Shiode]

Hey users,

Been trying to figure out exactly what MESA does with the mixing length when scale_height(k) > r(k) as in a stellar core. 

So I've been rooting around in mlt/private and star/private. I believe I found the answer in star/private/mix_info.f, but I'm looking for some verification..

It seems that in the subroutine end_of_convective_region it checks to see if the r(ktop) - r(kbot) for the convection zone is smaller than the initial guess at mixing length (s% mixing_length_alpha * s% scale_height). If dr < Hp, but not so small as to be pruned, then it recalculates the mlt info using a smaller alpha set so that Lambda = 0.5 * dr... 

Is this prescription used both for shell convection zones and core convection zones (where r(kbot) --> 0)?

Thanks,
Josh