scholarly journals Impulsive coronal heating during the interaction of surface magnetic fields in the lower solar atmosphere

2020 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. A130
Author(s):  
L. P. Chitta ◽  
H. Peter ◽  
E. R. Priest ◽  
S. K. Solanki
Keyword(s):  
Solar Surface ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Opposite Polarity ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
Magnetic Polarity ◽  
Coronal Heating ◽  
Coronal Loops ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Solar Dynamics

Coronal plasma in the cores of solar active regions is impulsively heated to more than 5 MK. The nature and location of the magnetic energy source responsible for such impulsive heating is poorly understood. Using observations of seven active regions from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we found that a majority of coronal loops hosting hot plasma have at least one footpoint rooted in regions of interacting mixed magnetic polarity at the solar surface. In cases when co-temporal observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph space mission are available, we found spectroscopic evidence for magnetic reconnection at the base of the hot coronal loops. Our analysis suggests that interactions of magnetic patches of opposite polarity at the solar surface and the associated energy release during reconnection are key to impulsive coronal heating.

scholarly journals Nature of the energy source powering solar coronal loops driven by nanoflares

2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. L9 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. P. Chitta ◽  
H. Peter ◽  
S. K. Solanki
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Energy Source ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Plasma Heating ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Coronal Loops ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Mixed Polarity ◽  
Solar Dynamics

Context. Magnetic energy is required to heat the corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun, to millions of degrees. Aims. We study the nature of the magnetic energy source that is probably responsible for the brightening of coronal loops driven by nanoflares in the cores of solar active regions. Methods. We consider observations of two active regions (ARs), 11890 and 12234, in which nanoflares have been detected. To this end, we use ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) for coronal loop diagnostics. These images are combined with the co-temporal line-of-sight magnetic field maps from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) onboard SDO to investigate the connection between coronal loops and their magnetic roots in the photosphere. Results. The core of these ARs exhibit loop brightening in multiple EUV channels of AIA, particularly in its 9.4 nm filter. The HMI magnetic field maps reveal the presence of a complex mixed polarity magnetic field distribution at the base of these loops. We detect the cancellation of photospheric magnetic flux at these locations at a rate of about 1015 Mx s−1. The associated compact coronal brightenings directly above the cancelling magnetic features are indicative of plasma heating due to chromospheric magnetic reconnection. Conclusions. We suggest that the complex magnetic topology and the evolution of magnetic field, such as flux cancellation in the photosphere and the resulting chromospheric reconnection, can play an important role in energizing active region coronal loops driven by nanoflares. Our estimate of magnetic energy release during flux cancellation in the quiet Sun suggests that chromospheric reconnection can also power the quiet corona.

CORONAL HEATING BY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN EMERGING ACTIVE REGIONS AND THE QUIET SUN OBSERVED BY THE SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY

2015 ◽  
Vol 799 (2) ◽  
pp. L27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Shuhong Yang ◽  
Yuzong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Regions ◽  
Coronal Heating ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Quiet Sun ◽  
Solar Dynamics

scholarly journals An Analysis of Spikes in Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) Data

Solar Physics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 296 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Young ◽  
Nicholeen M. Viall ◽  
Michael S. Kirk ◽  
Emily I. Mason ◽  
Lakshmi Pradeep Chitta
Keyword(s):  
Solar Atmosphere ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
Solar Surface ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Processing Pipeline ◽  
High Resolution Images ◽  
Solar Dynamics

AbstractThe Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) returns high-resolution images of the solar atmosphere in seven extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength channels. The images are processed on the ground to remove intensity spikes arising from energetic particles hitting the instrument, and the despiked images are provided to the community. In this article, a three-hour series of images from the 171 Å channel obtained on 28 February 2017 was studied to investigate how often the despiking algorithm gave false positives caused by compact brightenings in the solar atmosphere. The latter were identified through spikes appearing in the same detector pixel for three consecutive frames. 1096 examples were found from the 900 image frames. These “three-spikes” were assigned to 126 dynamic solar features, and it is estimated that the three-spike method identifies 19% of the total number of features affected by despiking. For any ten-minute sequence of AIA 171 Å images there are around 37 solar features that have their intensity modified by despiking. The features are found in active regions, quiet Sun, and coronal holes and, in relation to solar surface area, there is a greater proportion within coronal holes. In 96% of the cases, the despiked structure is a compact brightening with a size of two arcsec or less, and the remaining 4% have narrow, elongated structures. By applying an EUV burst detection algorithm, we found that 96% of the events could be classified as EUV bursts. None of the spike events are rendered invisible by the AIA processing pipeline, but the total intensity over an event’s lifetime can be reduced by up to 67%. Users are recommended to always restore the original intensities in AIA data when studying short-lived or rapidly evolving features that exhibit fine-scale structure.

scholarly journals Multi-scale observations of thermal non-equilibrium cycles in coronal loops

2019 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. A11 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Froment ◽  
P. Antolin ◽  
V. M. J. Henriques ◽  
P. Kohutova ◽  
L. H. M. Rouppe van der Voort
Keyword(s):  
Active Regions ◽  
Spectral Lines ◽  
Coronal Loops ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Spectral Characterisation ◽  
Cooling Phase ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Coronal Rain ◽  
Non Equilibrium

Context. Thermal non-equilibrium (TNE) is a phenomenon that can occur in solar coronal loops when the heating is quasi-constant and highly-stratified. Under such heating conditions, coronal loops undergo cycles of evaporation and condensation. The recent observations of ubiquitous long-period intensity pulsations in coronal loops and their relationship with coronal rain have demonstrated that understanding the characteristics of TNE cycles is an essential step in constraining the circulation of mass and energy in the corona. Aims. We report unique observations with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) that link the captured thermal properties across the extreme spatiotemporal scales covered by TNE processes. Methods. Within the same coronal loop bundle, we captured 6 h period coronal intensity pulsations in SDO/AIA and coronal rain observed off-limb in the chromospheric Hα and Ca II K spectral lines with SST/CRISP and SST/CHROMIS. We combined a multi-thermal analysis of the cycles with AIA and an extensive spectral characterisation of the rain clumps with the SST. Results. We find clear evidence of evaporation-condensation cycles in the corona which are linked with periodic coronal rain showers. The high-resolution spectroscopic instruments at the SST reveal the fine-structured rain strands and allow us to probe the cooling phase of one of the cycles down to chromospheric temperatures. Conclusions. These observations reinforce the link between long-period intensity pulsations and coronal rain. They also demonstrate the capability of TNE to shape the dynamics of active regions on the large scales as well as on the smallest scales currently resolvable.

scholarly journals Modelling nanoflares in active regions and implications for coronal heating mechanisms

2015 ◽  
Vol 373 (2042) ◽  
pp. 20140260 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Cargill ◽  
H. P. Warren ◽  
S. J. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Coronal Magnetic Field ◽  
Coronal Heating ◽  
Cooling Time ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Solar Active Regions ◽  
Solar Dynamics

Recent observations from the Hinode and Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft have provided major advances in understanding the heating of solar active regions (ARs). For ARs comprising many magnetic strands or sub-loops heated by small, impulsive events (nanoflares), it is suggested that (i) the time between individual nanoflares in a magnetic strand is 500–2000 s, (ii) a weak ‘hot’ component (more than 10 6.6  K) is present, and (iii) nanoflare energies may be as low as a few 10 23 ergs. These imply small heating events in a stressed coronal magnetic field, where the time between individual nanoflares on a strand is of order the cooling time. Modelling suggests that the observed properties are incompatible with nanoflare models that require long energy build-up (over 10 s of thousands of seconds) and with steady heating.

scholarly journals Multi-Stranded Coronal Loops: Quantifying Strand Number and Heating Frequency from Simulated Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) Observations

Solar Physics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 296 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Williams ◽  
Robert W. Walsh ◽  
Stephane Regnier ◽  
Craig D. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Coronal Loops ◽  
Loop Model ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Heat Deposition ◽  
Total Energy Content ◽  
Solar Dynamics

AbstractCoronal loops form the basic building blocks of the magnetically closed solar corona yet much is still to be determined concerning their possible fine-scale structuring and the rate of heat deposition within them. Using an improved multi-stranded loop model to better approximate the numerically challenging transition region, this article examines synthetic NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory’s (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) emission simulated in response to a series of prescribed spatially and temporally random, impulsive and localised heating events across numerous sub-loop elements with a strong weighting towards the base of the structure: the nanoflare heating scenario. The total number of strands and nanoflare repetition times is varied systematically in such a way that the total energy content remains approximately constant across all the cases analysed. Repeated time-lag detection during an emission time series provides a good approximation for the nanoflare repetition time for low-frequency heating. Furthermore, using a combination of AIA 171/193 and 193/211 channel ratios in combination with spectroscopic determination of the standard deviation of the loop-apex temperature over several hours alongside simulations from the outlined multi-stranded loop model, it is demonstrated that both the imposed heating rate and number of strands can be realised.

scholarly journals Generation of solar spicules and subsequent atmospheric heating

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 366 (6467) ◽  
pp. 890-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanmoy Samanta ◽  
Hui Tian ◽  
Vasyl Yurchyshyn ◽  
Hardi Peter ◽  
Wenda Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Atmosphere ◽  
Opposite Polarity ◽  
Solar Observatory ◽  
Magnetized Plasma ◽  
Solar Chromosphere ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Polarity Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Solar Spicules ◽  
Lower Solar Atmosphere

Spicules are rapidly evolving fine-scale jets of magnetized plasma in the solar chromosphere. It remains unclear how these prevalent jets originate from the solar surface and what role they play in heating the solar atmosphere. Using the Goode Solar Telescope at the Big Bear Solar Observatory, we observed spicules emerging within minutes of the appearance of opposite-polarity magnetic flux around dominant-polarity magnetic field concentrations. Data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory showed subsequent heating of the adjacent corona. The dynamic interaction of magnetic fields (likely due to magnetic reconnection) in the partially ionized lower solar atmosphere appears to generate these spicules and heat the upper solar atmosphere.

scholarly journals Observation and simulation of a filament eruption associated with the contraction of the overlying coronal loops and the filament rotation

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (S300) ◽  
pp. 504-506
Author(s):  
X. L. Yan ◽  
Z. K. Xue ◽  
Z. X. Mei
Keyword(s):  
Coronal Loop ◽  
Coronal Loops ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Filament Eruption ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Rotation Motion

AbstractBy using the data of Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we present a case study of the contraction of the overlying coronal loop and the rotation motion of a sigmoid filament on 2012 May 22. At the beginning of the filament eruption, the overlying coronal loop experienced a significant contraction. In the following, the filament started to rotate counterclockwise. We also carried the simulation to investigate the process of the filament eruption.

scholarly journals Signatures of red-shifted footpoints in the quiescent coronal loop system

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamini K. Rao ◽  
Abhishek K. Srivastava ◽  
Pradeep Kayshap ◽  
Bhola N. Dwivedi
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Data ◽  
Coronal Loop ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Coronal Loops ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Heating Mechanism ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Solar Dynamics ◽  
Impulsive Heating ◽  
Imaging Spectrograph

Abstract. We observed quiescent coronal loops using multi-wavelength observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on 2016 April 13. The flows at the footpoints of such loop systems are studied using spectral data from Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). The Doppler velocity distributions at the footpoints lying in the moss region show the negligible or small flows at Ni I, Mg II k3 and C II line corresponding to upper photospheric and chromospheric emissions. Significant red-shifts (downflows) ranging from (1 to 7) km s−1 are observed at Si IV (1393.78 Å; log(T/K) = 4.8) which is found to be consistent with the existing results regarding dynamical loop systems and moss regions. Such downflows agree well with the impulsive heating mechanism reported earlier.

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