Microscopic diffusion of partly ionized metals in the Sun and metal-poor stars

An improved microscopic diffusion in stars is presented considering in detail the partly ionized stages of metals. Besides,the influence of degenerate electron-gas and of the contribution of radiation to the total pressure has been accounted for. The solution of the diffusion equations is then performed following the scheme of Thoul et al. (1994). By defining one mean charged ion per element very few modifications are necessary to solve the improved diffusion scheme. (A portable FORTRAN routine is provided.) The change in the sound-speed profile of a solar model obtained with the new diffusion description is at most about 25% at r=0.6 R(sun). The biggest effect on low-mass stars is expected near the turn-off, where the convective envelope is shallowest. However, only a difference of at most 40 K in the effective temperature could be observed when assuming either fully or partly ionized metals in the diffusion equation. Nevertheless, the surface metal distribution is strongly altered.