scholarly journals Seismology of kink oscillations in coronal loops: Two decades of resonant damping

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S247) ◽  
pp. 228-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Goossens

AbstractThe detection of rapidly damped transverse oscillations in coronal loops by Aschwanden et al. (1999) and Nakariakov et al. (1999) gave a strong impetus to the study of MHD waves and their damping. The common interpretation of the observations of these oscillations is based on kink modes. This paper reviews how the observed period and damping time can be reproduced by MHD wave theory when non-uniform equilibrium models are considered that have a transversal variation of the local Alfven velocity. The key point here is that resonant absorption cannot be avoided and occurs as natural damping mechanism for kink waves in non-uniform equilibrium models. The present paper starts with work by Hollweg & Yang (1988) and discusses subsequent developments in theory and their applications to seismology of coronal loops. It addresses the consistent use of observations of periods and damping times as seismological tools within the framework of resonant absorption. It shows that within the framework of resonant absorption infinitely many equilibrium models can reproduce the observed values of periods and damping times.

Author(s):  
M Goossens ◽  
J Andries ◽  
I Arregui

In the last decade we have been overwhelmed by an avalanche of discoveries of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory and Transition Region and Coronal Explorer observatories. Both standing and propagating versions of fast magnetoacoustic and slow magnetoacoustic MHD waves have been detected. Information on the damping times and damping distances of these waves is less detailed and less accurate than that on periods and amplitudes. Nevertheless, observations show the damping times and damping lengths are often short. Also, different types of MHD waves in different types of magnetic structures likely require different damping mechanisms. The phenomenon of fast damping is well documented for the standing fast magnetosonic kink waves in coronal loops. This paper concentrates on standing fast magnetosonic waves. It reports on results on periods and damping times due to resonant absorption in one-dimensional and two-dimensional models of coronal loops. Special attention is given to multiple modes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. L8 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Afanasyev ◽  
T. Van Doorsselaere ◽  
V. M. Nakariakov

Context. The relatively large-amplitude decaying regime of transverse oscillations of coronal loops has been known for two decades and has been interpreted in terms of magnetohydrodynamic kink modes of cylindrical plasma waveguides. In this regime oscillations decay in several cycles. Recent observational analysis has revealed so-called decay-less, small-amplitude oscillations, in which a multi-harmonic structure has been detected. Several models have been proposed to explain these oscillations. In particular, decay-less oscillations have been described in terms of standing kink waves driven with continuous mono-periodic motions of loop footpoints, in terms of a simple oscillator model of forced oscillations due to harmonic external force, and as a self-oscillatory process due to the interaction of a loop with quasi-steady flows. However, an alternative mechanism is needed to explain the simultaneous excitation of several longitudinal harmonics of the oscillation. Aims. We study the mechanism of random excitation of decay-less transverse oscillations of coronal loops. Methods. With a spatially one-dimensional and time-dependent analytical model taking into account effects of the wave damping and kink speed variation along the loop, we considered transverse loop oscillations driven by random motions of footpoints. The footpoint motions were modelled by broad-band coloured noise. Results. We found the excitation of loop eigenmodes and analysed their frequency ratios as well as the spatial structure of the oscillations along the loop. The obtained results successfully reproduce the observed properties of decay-less oscillations. In particular, excitation of eigenmodes of a loop as a resonator can explain the observed quasi-monochromatic nature of decay-less oscillations and the generation of multiple harmonics detected recently. Conclusions. We propose a mechanism that can interpret decay-less transverse oscillations of coronal loops in terms of kink waves randomly driven at the loop footpoints.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (S300) ◽  
pp. 48-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Soler ◽  
Ramon Oliver ◽  
Jose Luis Ballester

AbstractTransverse oscillations of thin threads in solar prominences are frequently reported in high-resolution observations. The typical periods of the oscillations are in the range of 3 to 20 min. A peculiar feature of the oscillations is that they are damped in time, with short damping times corresponding to few periods. Theoretically, the oscillations are interpreted as kink magnetohydrodynamic waves. However, the mechanism responsible for the damping is not well known. Here we perform a comparative study between different physical mechanisms that may damp kink waves in prominence threads. The considered processes are thermal conduction, cooling by radiation, resonant absorption, and ion-neutral collisions. We find that thermal conduction and radiative cooling are very inefficient for the damping of kink waves. The effect of ion-neutral collisions is minor for waves with periods usually observed. Resonant absorption is the only process that produces an efficient damping. The damping times theoretically predicted by resonant absorption are compatible with those reported in the observations.


1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 506-508
Author(s):  
R. Erdélyi ◽  
M. Goossens

AbstractResonant absorption of MHD waves in coronal loops is studied in linear, viscous MHD. Viscosity is described by Braginskii’s viscosity stress tensor. The dependence of the process of resonant absorption on the viscosity coefficients is studied. The compressive viscosity and viscosity due to the finite Larmor radius do not produce absorption. Shear viscosity produces absorption and is a viable candidate for heating coronal loops. The width of the dissipation layer is found to be proportional to, whereη1is the shear viscous coefficient of the full viscous stress tensor.


2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A37 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pagano ◽  
I. De Moortel

Context. Whilst there are observational indications that transverse magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves carry enough energy to maintain the thermal structure of the solar corona, it is not clear whether such energy can be efficiently and effectively converted into heating. Phase-mixing of Alfvén waves is considered a candidate mechanism, as it can develop transverse gradient where magnetic energy can be converted into thermal energy. However, phase-mixing is a process that crucially depends on the amplitude and period of the transverse oscillations, and only recently have we obtained a complete measurement of the power spectrum for transverse oscillations in the corona. Aims. We aim to investigate the heating generated by phase-mixing of transverse oscillations triggered by buffeting of a coronal loop that follows from the observed coronal power spectrum as well as the impact of these persistent oscillations on the structure of coronal loops. Methods. We considered a 3D MHD model of an active region coronal loop and we perturbed its footpoints with a 2D horizontal driver that represents a random buffeting motion of the loop footpoints. Our driver was composed of 1000 pulses superimposed to generate the observed power spectrum. Results. We find that the heating supply from the observed power spectrum in the solar corona through phase-mixing is not sufficient to maintain the million-degree active region solar corona. We also find that the development of Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities could be a common phenomenon in coronal loops that could affect their apparent life time. Conclusions. This study concludes that is unlikely that phase-mixing of Alfvén waves resulting from an observed power spectrum of transverse coronal loop oscillations can heat the active region solar corona. However, transverse waves could play an important role in the development of small scale structures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 217 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Nakariakov ◽  
S. A. Anfinogentov ◽  
P. Antolin ◽  
R. Jain ◽  
D. Y. Kolotkov ◽  
...  

AbstractKink oscillations of coronal loops, i.e., standing kink waves, is one of the most studied dynamic phenomena in the solar corona. The oscillations are excited by impulsive energy releases, such as low coronal eruptions. Typical periods of the oscillations are from a few to several minutes, and are found to increase linearly with the increase in the major radius of the oscillating loops. It clearly demonstrates that kink oscillations are natural modes of the loops, and can be described as standing fast magnetoacoustic waves with the wavelength determined by the length of the loop. Kink oscillations are observed in two different regimes. In the rapidly decaying regime, the apparent displacement amplitude reaches several minor radii of the loop. The damping time which is about several oscillation periods decreases with the increase in the oscillation amplitude, suggesting a nonlinear nature of the damping. In the decayless regime, the amplitudes are smaller than a minor radius, and the driver is still debated. The review summarises major findings obtained during the last decade, and covers both observational and theoretical results. Observational results include creation and analysis of comprehensive catalogues of the oscillation events, and detection of kink oscillations with imaging and spectral instruments in the EUV and microwave bands. Theoretical results include various approaches to modelling in terms of the magnetohydrodynamic wave theory. Properties of kink oscillations are found to depend on parameters of the oscillating loop, such as the magnetic twist, stratification, steady flows, temperature variations and so on, which make kink oscillations a natural probe of these parameters by the method of magnetohydrodynamic seismology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 923 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Richard J. Morton ◽  
Ajay K. Tiwari ◽  
Tom Van Doorsselaere ◽  
James A. McLaughlin

Abstract Propagating transverse waves are thought to be a key transporter of Poynting flux throughout the Sun’s atmosphere. Recent studies have shown that these transverse motions, interpreted as the magnetohydrodynamic kink mode, are prevalent throughout the corona. The associated energy estimates suggest the waves carry enough energy to meet the demands of coronal radiative losses in the quiescent Sun. However, it is still unclear how the waves deposit their energy into the coronal plasma. We present the results from a large-scale study of propagating kink waves in the quiescent corona using data from the Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (CoMP). The analysis reveals that the kink waves appear to be weakly damped, which would imply low rates of energy transfer from the large-scale transverse motions to smaller scales via either uniturbulence or resonant absorption. This raises questions about how the observed kink modes would deposit their energy into the coronal plasma. Moreover, these observations, combined with the results of Monte Carlo simulations, lead us to infer that the solar corona displays a spectrum of density ratios, with a smaller density ratio (relative to the ambient corona) in quiescent coronal loops and a higher density ratio in active-region coronal loops.


1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 503-505
Author(s):  
R. Erdélyi ◽  
M. Goossens ◽  
S. Poedts

AbstractThe stationary state of resonant absorption of linear, MHD waves in cylindrical magnetic flux tubes is studied in viscous, compressible MHD with a numerical code using finite element discretization. The full viscosity tensor with the five viscosity coefficients as given by Braginskii is included in the analysis. Our computations reproduce the absorption rates obtained by Lou in scalar viscous MHD and Goossens and Poedts in resistive MHD, which guarantee the numerical accuracy of the tensorial viscous MHD code.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document