GOLDFINGERS — fingering instabilities in spherical geometry: from planets to neutron stars

GOLDFINGERS investigates fingering-type double-diffusive convection in spherical geometry, a key process controlling the transport of heat, composition, and energy in planetary interiors, stellar radiative zones, and proto-neutron stars (Q2 and Q3). By combining high-resolution global simulations with the effects of rotation and magnetic fields, the project aims to characterize the onset of instabilities, the formation of large-scale flows, and the potential for magnetic field generation, in order to establish predictive scaling laws applicable to astrophysical conditions. A postdoctoral researcher has been successfully recruited and will start on April 1. Scientific work on WP1 (hydrodynamic simulations) will begin upon their arrival, followed by WP2 (MHD simulations) in the second phase of the project.