Solar cycle variation of νmax in helioseismic data and its implications for asteroseismology

ABSTRACT The frequency, νmax, at which the envelope of pulsation power peaks for solar-like oscillators is an important quantity in asteroseismology. We measure νmax for the Sun using 25 yr of Sun-as-a-star Doppler velocity observations with the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON), by fitting a simple model to binned power spectra of the data. We also apply the fit to Sun-as-a-star Doppler velocity data from Global Oscillation Network Group and Global Oscillations at Low Frequency, and photometry data from VIRGO/SPM on the ESA/NASA SOHO spacecraft. We discover a weak but nevertheless significant positive correlation of the solar νmax with solar activity. The uncovered shift between low and high activity, of $\simeq 25\, \rm \mu Hz$, translates to an uncertainty of 0.8 per cent in radius and 2.4 per cent in mass, based on direct use of asteroseismic scaling relations calibrated to the Sun. The mean νmax in the different data sets is also clearly offset in frequency. Our results flag the need for caution when using νmax in asteroseismology.

Searching for g modes

Context. The recent claims of g-mode detection have restarted the search for these potentially extremely important modes. These claims can be reassessed in view of the different data sets available from the SoHO instruments and ground-based instruments. Aims. We produce a new calibration of the GOLF data with a more consistent p-mode amplitude and a more consistent time shift correction compared to the time series used in the past. Methods. The calibration of 22 yr of GOLF data is done with a simpler approach that uses only the predictive radial velocity of the SoHO spacecraft as a reference. Using p modes, we measure and correct the time shift between ground- and space-based instruments and the GOLF instrument. Results. The p-mode velocity calibration is now consistent to within a few percent with other instruments. The remaining time shifts are within ±5 s for 99.8% of the time series.

Superdiffusive and ballistic propagation of protons in solar energetic particle events

In this work we show that protons can exhibit both superdiffusive and ballistic propagation, at variance with standard diffusion. We carry out an analysis of impulsive solar energetic particle (SEP) events, for which the observed time profile of energetic particle fluxes represent the propagator of the corresponding transport equation. We show that in the case of superdiffusive or ballistic transport the propagator in the time asymptotic regime has a power law form, and that a fit of the observed time profiles allows to determine the transport regime. Using data obtained from ACE and SoHO spacecraft, two proton and electron events, which exhibit both superdiffusive and ballistic transport, will be shown. The finding of these anomalous regimes implies that no finite mean free path can be defined.

3D evolution of solar magnetic fields and high-speed solar wind streams near the minimum of solar cycle 23

The numerical method developed by Veselovsky & Ivanov (2006), together with magnetograms of the Sun obtained at the photospheric level were used to calculate the coronal magnetic field with open, closed and intermittent topology during March-December 2007. The results of the modelling are compared with stereoscopic images and movies of the corona observed by EUV telescopes onboard STEREO and SOHO spacecraft. The sources of the permanent and transient high speed solar wind streams as well as the sector structure and the heliospheric plasma sheet observed at the Earth's orbit by the ACE and STEREO spacecraft are discussed.

COSTEP/SOHO observations of energetic electrons far upstream of the Earth's bow-shock

We have analyzed 124 electron bursts at energies above 0.25 MeV observed with the EPHIN/COSTEP instrument onboard the SOHO spacecraft far upstream of the Earth's bow-shock at the libration point L1 from 1996 through 2005. Most of the bursts were observed during low solar activity (in 1996–1997 and in 2005) and all 124 bursts were not associated with solar particle events. It is shown that some upstream events are detected at energies above 0.7 MeV. We find that the event occurrence number shows a distinct seasonal variation with maxima around equinoxes and minima near solstices. This together with a close correspondence between the event occurrence number with maxima in solar wind speed (Vsw), geomagnetic activity index (Ap) and in the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) component (Bz) indicates that the observed events can be explained in terms of leakage of magnetospheric particles during enhanced geoactivity rather than by acceleration at the Earth's bow-shock.

FIP Effect and FIP-Dependent Bias in the Solar Corona

Using EUV spectra of an active region observed off the solar disk by the SOHO/SUMER spectrograph on the SOHO spacecraft, we investigate the dependence of the FIP effect on the height above the photosphere, and its relation to plasma magnetic structures present in the field of view. We also investigate the possibility of the FIP bias in the low-FIP elements to be FIP-dependent, so that different abundance anomalies must be found even within the low-FIP class of elements, which can provide important constraints on the FIP effect models.

SOLAR g-MODE OSCILLATIONS: EXPERIMENTAL DETECTION EFFORTS AND THEORETICAL ESTIMATES

In the early days of helioseismology, around 1975, independent detections of an oscillation with a period of 160 min in solar spectral line-shift data caused very substantial interest: it was suggested that this resulted from a solar g mode, whose frequency would then provide a tight constraint on the structure of the solar core. Also, it was noted that such modes, which involve a substantial fraction of the solar mass, might lead to a detectable gravitational-wave signal. Later observations have, however, failed to confirm the solar nature of the originally detected oscillation. Extensive data on the low-frequency part of the solar oscillation spectrum have been obtained from several experiments over the last decade, including instruments on the SOHO spacecraft. These have provided stringent limits on amplitudes of solar g modes and a few tentative detections, although so far not independently confirmed. Theoretical estimates of g-mode amplitudes, while highly uncertain, suggest that direct detection of the modes on the solar surface may be difficult. However, detection with the ASTROD mission may be possible, although identification of the solar signal will require careful analysis.