Pre-Main-Sequence stars with masses between 2 and 5 M e (Herbig Ae/Be stars) have radiative subphotospheric envelopes. However, they possess strong stellar winds and show definite signs of activity which could be linked to surface magnetic field. Therefore, they must lose angular momentum at a significant rate.
We investigate the effect of such angular momentum losses on the internal structure of these stars, and on the distribution of angular velocity inside them. This paper presents a preliminary analysis guided by an analogy with laboratory and geophysical fluids. We propose that the friction exerted at the stellar surface by the angular momentum losses produces a mixed layer below the surface, separated from the unperturbed interior by an interface. Using scaling laws established by experimental studies of sheared stratified fluids, we discuss a simplified model for the evolution of the mixed layer.
Although this model is still too preliminary to allow quantitative predictions, we show that for a reasonable choice of parameters, the mixed layer penetrates into the stellar interior on a time-scale of 106 years, comparable to the Kelvin time-scale for the Herbig Ae/Be stars.