We investigate the asymptotic properties of inertial modes confined in a spherical shell when viscosity tends to zero. We first consider the mapping made by the characteristics of the hyperbolic equation (Poincaré's equation) satisfied by inviscid solutions. Characteristics are straight lines in a meridional section of the shell, and the mapping shows that, generically, these lines converge towards a periodic orbit which acts like an attractor (the associated Lyapunov exponent is always negative or zero). We show that these attractors exist in bands of frequencies the size of which decreases with the number of reflection points of the attractor. At the bounding frequencies the associated Lyapunov exponent is generically either zero or minus infinity. We further show that for a given frequency the number of coexisting attractors is finite.We then examine the relation between this characteristic path and eigensolutions of the inviscid problem and show that in a purely two-dimensional problem, convergence towards an attractor means that the associated velocity field is not square-integrable. We give arguments which generalize this result to three dimensions. Then, using a sphere immersed in a fluid filling the whole space, we study the critical latitude singularity and show that the velocity field diverges as 1/ √ d, d being the distance to the characteristic grazing the inner sphere.We then consider the viscous problem and show how viscosity transforms singularities into internal shear layers which in general betray an attractor expected at the eigenfrequency of the mode. Investigating the structure of these shear layers, we find that they are nested layers, the thinnest and most internal layer scaling with E 1/3 -scale, E being the Ekman number; for this latter layer, we give its analytical form and show its similarity to vertical 1 3 -shear layers of steady flows. Using an inertial wave packet traveling around an attractor, we give a lower bound on the thickness of shear layers and show how eigenfrequencies can be computed in principle. Finally, we show that as viscosity decreases, eigenfrequencies tend towards a set of values which is not dense in [0, 2Ω], contrary to the case of the full sphere (Ω is the angular velocity of the system).Hence, our geometrical approach opens the possibility of describing the eigenmodes and eigenvalues for astrophysical/geophysical Ekman numbers (10 −10 − 10 −20 ), which are out of reach numerically, and this for a wide class of containers.

Context. With the launch of space missions devoted to asteroseismology (like COROT), the scientific community will soon have accurate measurements of pulsation frequencies in many rapidly rotating stars. Aims. The present work focuses on the effects of rotation on pulsations of rapidly rotating stars when both the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations require a non-perturbative treatment. Methods. We develop a 2-dimensional spectral numerical approach which allows us to compute acoustic modes in centrifugally distorted polytropes including the full influence of the Coriolis force. This method is validated through comparisons with previous studies, and the results are shown to be highly accurate. Results. In the frequency range considered and with COROT's accuracy, we establish a domain of validity for perturbative methods, thus showing the need for complete calculations beyond v sin i = 50 km s −1 for a R = 2.3 R , M = 1.9 M polytropic star. Furthermore, it is shown that the main differences between complete and perturbative calculations come essentially from the centrifugal distortion.

We use three-dimensional simulations to study compressible convection in a rotating frame with magnetic fields and overshoot into surrounding stable layers. The, initially weak, magnetic field is amplified and maintained by dynamo action and becomes organized into flux tubes that are wrapped around vortex tubes. We also observe vortex buoyancy which causes upward flows in the cores of extended downdraughts. An analysis of the angles between various vector fields shows that there is a tendency for the magnetic field to be parallel or antiparallel to the vorticity vector, especially when the magnetic field is strong. The magnetic energy spectrum has a short inertial range with a slope compatible with k+lI3 during the early growth phase of the dynamo. During the saturated state the slope is compatible with k-'. A simple analysis based on various characteristic timescales and energy transfer rates highlights important qualitative ideas regarding the energy budget of hydromagnetic dynamos.