Mode conversion of two-fluid shocks in a partially-ionised, isothermal, stratified atmosphere

Context. The plasma of the lower solar atmosphere consists of mostly neutral particles, whereas the upper solar atmosphere is mostly made up of ionised particles and electrons. A shock that propagates upwards in the solar atmosphere therefore undergoes a transition where the dominant fluid is either neutral or ionised. An upwards propagating shock also passes a point where the sound and Alfvén speed are equal. At this point the energy of the acoustic shock can separated into fast and slow components. The way the energy is distributed between the two modes depends on the angle of magnetic field. Aims. We aim to investigate the separation of neutral and ionised species in a gravitationally stratified atmosphere. The role of two-fluid effects on the structure of the shocks post-mode-conversion and the frictional heating is quantified for different levels of collisional coupling. Methods. Two-fluid numerical simulations were performed using the (PIP) code of a wave steepening into a shock in an isothermal, partially-ionised atmosphere. The collisional coefficient was varied to investigate the regimes where the plasma and neutral species are weakly, strongly, and finitely coupled. Results. The propagation speeds of the compressional waves hosted by neutral and ionised species vary and, therefore, velocity drift between the two species is produced as the plasma attempts to propagate faster than the neutrals. This is most extreme for a fast-mode shock. We find that the collisional coefficient drastically impacts the features present in the system, specifically the mode conversion height, type of shocks present, and the finite shock widths created by the two-fluid effects. In the finitely-coupled regime, fast-mode shock widths can exceed the pressure scale height, which may lead to a new potential observable of two-fluid effects in the lower solar atmosphere.

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Numerical simulations of the lower solar atmosphere heating by two-fluid nonlinear Alfvén waves

Astronomy and Astrophysics ◽

10.1051/0004-6361/201937260 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 639 ◽

pp. A45

Author(s):

B. Kuźma ◽

D. Wójcik ◽

K. Murawski ◽

D. Yuan ◽

S. Poedts

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Flux ◽

Numerical Simulations ◽

Solar Atmosphere ◽

Flux Tube ◽

Alfven Waves ◽

Alfven Wave ◽

Magnetic Flux Tube ◽

Alfvén Waves ◽

Two Fluid ◽

Lower Solar Atmosphere

Context. We present new insight into the long-standing problem of plasma heating in the lower solar atmosphere in terms of collisional dissipation caused by two-fluid Alfvén waves. Aims. Using numerical simulations, we study Alfvén wave propagation and dissipation in a magnetic flux tube and their heating effect. Methods. We set up 2.5-dimensional numerical simulations with a semi-empirical model of a stratified solar atmosphere and a force-free magnetic field mimicking a magnetic flux tube. We consider a partially ionized plasma consisting of ion + electron and neutral fluids, which are coupled by ion-neutral collisions. Results. We find that Alfvén waves, which are directly generated by a monochromatic driver at the bottom of the photosphere, experience strong damping. Low-amplitude waves do not thermalize sufficient wave energy to heat the solar atmospheric plasma. However, Alfvén waves with amplitudes greater than 0.1 km s−1 drive through ponderomotive force magneto-acoustic waves in higher atmospheric layers. These waves are damped by ion-neutral collisions, and the thermal energy released in this process leads to heating of the upper photosphere and the chromosphere. Conclusions. We infer that, as a result of ion-neutral collisions, the energy carried initially by Alfvén waves is thermalized in the upper photosphere and the chromosphere, and the corresponding heating rate is large enough to compensate radiative and thermal-conduction energy losses therein.

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Spatial variation of periods of ion and neutral waves in a solar magnetic arcade.

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-6726 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Błażej Kuźma ◽

Kris Murawski ◽

Zdzisław Musielak ◽

Stefaan Poedts ◽

Dariusz Wójcik

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Solar Atmosphere ◽

Gravity Waves ◽

Solar Photosphere ◽

Acoustic Gravity Waves ◽

Partially Ionized ◽

The Impact ◽

Two Fluid ◽

Lower Solar Atmosphere ◽

Magnetic Arcade

<p>We present a new insight into the propagation of ion magnetoacoustic and neutral acoustic waves in a magnetic arcade in the lower solar atmosphere. By means of numerical simulations, we aim to: (a) study two-fluid waves propagating in a magnetic arcade embedded in the partially-ionized, lower solar atmosphere; and (b) investigate the impact of the background magneticfield configuration on the observed wave-periods. We consider a 2D approximation of the gravitationally stratified and partially-ionized lower solar atmosphere consisting of ion + electron and neutral fluids that are coupled by ion-neutral collisions. In this model, the convection below the photosphere is responsible for the excitation of ion magnetoacoustic-gravity and neutral acoustic-gravity waves. We find that in the solar photosphere, where ions and neutrals are strongly coupled by collisions, magnetoacoustic-gravity and acoustic-gravity waves have periods ranging from250s to350s. In the chromosphere, where the collisional coupling is weak, the wave characteristics strongly depend on the magnetic field configuration. Above the foot-points of the considered arcade, the plasma is dominated by vertical magnetic field along which ion slow magnetoacoustic-gravity waves are guided. These waves exhibit a broad range of periods with the most prominent periods of 180 s, 220 s, and 300 s. Above the main loop of the solar arcade, where mostly horizontal magnetic field lines guide ion magnetoacoustic waves, the main spectral power reduces to the period of about 180 s and longer wave-periods do not exist. The obtained results demonstrate unprecedented, never reported before level of agreement with the recently reported observational data of Wisniewska et al. (2016) and Kayshap et al. (2018). We demonstrate that the two-fluid approach is indeed crucial for a description of wave-related processes in the lower solar atmosphere, with energy transport and dissipation being of the highest interest among them.</p>

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Influence of Magnetic Fields on Solar Hydrodynamics: Experimental Results

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s025292110005329x ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

pp. 143-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

J.O. Stenflo

Keyword(s):

Solar Activity ◽

Energy Balance ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Solar Atmosphere ◽

General Problem ◽

Solar Rotation ◽

Active Regions ◽

Physical Conditions ◽

Dynamic Phenomena

It is well-known that solar activity is basically caused by the Interaction of magnetic fields with convection and solar rotation, resulting in a great variety of dynamic phenomena, like flares, surges, sunspots, prominences, etc. Many conferences have been devoted to solar activity, including the role of magnetic fields. Similar attention has not been paid to the role of magnetic fields for the overall dynamics and energy balance of the solar atmosphere, related to the general problem of chromospheric and coronal heating. To penetrate this problem we have to focus our attention more on the physical conditions in the ‘quiet’ regions than on the conspicuous phenomena in active regions.

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