arXiv subjects

R. J. Morton

Publications and source records attributed to R. J. Morton.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

A statistical study of transverse oscillations in a quiescent prominence

The launch of the Hinode satellite has allowed for seeing-free observations at high-resolution and high-cadence making it well suited to study the dynamics of quiescent prominences. In recent years it has become clear that quiescent prominences support small-amplitude transverse oscillations, however, sample sizes are usually too small for general conclusions to be drawn. We remedy this by providing a statistical study of transverse oscillations in vertical prominence threads. Over a three-hour period of observations it was possible to measure the properties of 3436 waves, finding periods from 50 to 6000 s with typical velocity amplitudes ranging between 0.2 to 23 km s$^{-1}$. The large number of observed waves allows the determination of the frequency dependence of the wave properties and derivation of the velocity power spectrum for the transverse waves. For frequencies less than 7 mHz, the frequency-dependence of the velocity power is consistent with the velocity power spectra generated from observations of the horizontal motions of magnetic elements in the photosphere, suggesting that the prominence transverse waves are driven by photospheric motions. However, at higher frequencies the two distributions significantly diverge, with relatively more power found at higher frequencies in the prominence oscillations. These results highlight that waves over a large frequency range are ubiquitous in prominences, and that a significant amount of the wave energy is found at higher frequency.

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arXiv2013

The dynamical behaviour of a jet in an on-disk coronal hole observed with AIA/SDO

EUV jets situated in coronal holes are thought to play an important role in supplying heated material to the corona and solar wind. The multi-wavelength capabilities and high signal-to-noise of detectors on-board SDO allows for detailed study of these jet's evolution. We aim to exploit SDO's capabilities to reveal information on the jet dynamics and obtain estimates for plasma properties associated with the jet. We study the dynamics an EUV jet with AIA/SDO at a coronal hole boundary. The details of the jet evolution are discussed and measurements of the jet's parameters, e.g. length, width, life time, outward speed, are obtained. Further, automated emission measure analysis is exploited to determine estimates for the temperature and density of the jet. A propagating transverse wave supported by the jet spire is also observed. Measurement of the wave properties are exploited for magneto-seismology and are used in conjunction with the emission measure results to estimate the magnetic field strength of the jet. We present a detailed description of the jet's evolution, with new evidence for plasma flows, prior to the jet's initiation, along the loops at the base of the jet and also find further evidence that flows along the jet spire consist of multiple, quasi-periodic small-scale plasma ejection events. In addition, DEM analysis suggests that the jet has temperatures of $\log{5.89\pm0.08}$ K and electron densities of $\log{8.75\pm0.05}$ cm$^{-3}$. Measured properties of the transverse wave suggest the wave is heavily damped as it propagates along the jet spire with speeds of $\sim110$ km/s. The magneto-seismological inversion of the wave parameters provides values of $B=1.21\pm0.2$ G along the jet spire, which is in line with previous estimates for open fields in coronal holes.}

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arXiv2013

Characteristics of transverse waves in chromospheric mottles

Using data obtained by the high temporal and spatial resolution Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere (ROSA) instrument on the Dunn Solar Telescope, we investigate at an unprecedented level of detail transverse oscillations in chromospheric fine structures near the solar disk center. The oscillations are interpreted in terms of propagating and standing magnetohydrodynamic kink waves. Wave characteristics including the maximum transverse velocity amplitude and the phase speed are measured as a function of distance along the structure's length. Solar magneto-seismology is applied to these measured parameters to obtain diagnostic information on key plasma parameters (e.g., magnetic field, density, temperature, flow speed) of these localised waveguides. The magnetic field strength of the mottle along the $\sim$2 Mm length is found to decrease by a factor of 12, while the local plasma density scale height is $\sim280\pm$80 km.

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arXiv2013

Hi-C & AIA observations of transverse MHD waves in active regions

The recent launch of the High resolution Coronal imager (Hi-C) provided a unique opportunity to study the EUV corona with unprecedented spatial resolution. We utilize these observations to investigate the properties of low frequency (50-200 s) active region transverse waves, whose omnipresence had been suggested previously. The five-fold improvement in spatial resolution over SDO/AIA reveals coronal loops with widths 150-310 km and that these loops support transverse waves with displacement amplitudes <50 km. However, the results suggest that wave activity in the coronal loops is of low energy, with typical velocity amplitudes <3 km/s. An extended time-series of SDO data suggest low-energy wave behaviour is typical of the coronal structures both before and after the Hi-C observations.

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arXiv2013

Observations of ubiquitous compressive waves in the Sun's chromosphere

The details of the mechanism(s) responsible for the observed heating and dynamics of the solar atmosphere still remain a mystery. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves are thought to play a vital role in this process. Although it has been shown that incompressible waves are ubiquitous in off-limb solar atmospheric observations their energy cannot be readily dissipated. We provide here, for the first time, on-disk observation and identification of concurrent MHD wave modes, both compressible and incompressible, in the solar chromosphere. The observed ubiquity and estimated energy flux associated with the detected MHD waves suggest the chromosphere is a vast reservoir of wave energy with the potential to meet chromospheric and coronal heating requirements. We are also able to propose an upper bound on the flux of the observed wave energy that is able to reach the corona based on observational constraints, which has important implications for the suggested mechanism(s) for quiescent coronal heating.

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arXiv2013

Evidence for the photospheric excitation of incompressible chromospheric waves

Observing the excitation mechanisms of incompressible transverse waves is vital for determining how energy propagates through the lower solar atmosphere. We aim to show the connection between convectively driven photospheric flows and incompressible chromospheric waves. The observations presented here show the propagation of incompressible motion through the quiet lower solar atmosphere, from the photosphere to the chromosphere. We determine photospheric flow vectors to search for signatures of vortex motion and compare results to {photospheric flows present in} convective simulations. Further, we search for the chromospheric response to vortex motions. Evidence is presented that suggests incompressible waves can be excited by the vortex motions of a strong magnetic flux concentration in the photosphere. A chromospheric counterpart to the photospheric vortex motion is also observed, presenting itself as a quasi-periodic torsional motion. Fine-scale, fibril structures that emanate from the chromospheric counterpart support transverse waves that are driven by the observed torsional motion. A new technique for obtaining details of transverse waves from time-distance diagrams is presented and the properties of transverse waves (e.g., amplitudes and periods) excited by the chromospheric torsional motion are measured.

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arXiv2012

Chromospheric jets around the edges of sunspots

Evidence is beginning to be put forward that demonstrates the role of the chromosphere in supplying energy and mass to the corona. We aim to assess the role of chromospheric jets in active region dynamics. Using a combination of the Hinode/SOT Ca II H and TRACE 1550 Å and 1600 Å filters we examine chromospheric jets situated at the edge of a sunspot. Analysis reveals a near continuous series of jets, that raise chromospheric material into the low corona above a sunspot. The jets have average rise speeds of 30 km\,s^{-1} and a range of 10-100km\,s^{-1}. Enhanced emission observed at the jets leading edge suggests the formation of a shock front. Increased emission in TRACE bandpasses above the sunspot and the disappearance of the jets from the Ca II filter suggests that some of the chromospheric jet material is at least heated to \sim0.1MK. The evidence suggests that the jets could be a mechanism which provides a steady, low-level heating for active region features.

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arXiv2012

Observations of quasi-periodic phenomena associated with a large blowout solar jet

A variety of periodic phenomena have been observed in conjunction with large solar jets. We aim to find further evidence for {(quasi-)}periodic behaviour in solar jets and determine what the periodic behaviour can tell us about the excitation mechanism and formation process of the large solar jet. Using the 304 Å (He-II), 171 Å (Fe IX), 193 Å (Fe XII/XXIV) and 131 Å (Fe VIII/XXI) filters on-board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), we investigate the intensity oscillations associated with a solar jet. Evidence is provided for multiple magnetic reconnection events occurring between a pre-twisted, closed field and open field lines. Components of the jet are seen in multiple SDO/AIA filters covering a wide range of temperatures, suggesting the jet can be classified as a blowout jet. Two bright, elongated features are observed to be co-spatial with the large jet, appearing at the jet's footpoints. Investigation of these features reveal they are defined by multiple plasma ejections. The ejecta display (quasi-)periodic behaviour on timescales of 50 s and have rise velocities of 40-150 km\,s$^{-1}$ along the open field lines. Due to the suggestion that the large jet is reconnection-driven and the observed properties of the ejecta, we further propose that these ejecta events are similar to type-II spicules. The bright features also display (quasi)-periodic intensity perturbations on the timescale of 300 s. Possible explanations for the existence of the (quasi-)periodic perturbations in terms of jet dynamics and the response of the transition region are discussed.

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arXiv2012

Transverse oscillations in chromospheric mottles

A number of recent investigations have revealed that transverse waves are ubiquitous in the solar chromosphere. The vast majority of these have been reported in limb spicules and active region fibrils. We investigate long-lived, quiet Sun, on-disk features such as chromospheric mottles (jet-like features located at the boundaries of supergranular cells) and their transverse motions. The observations were obtained with the Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere (ROSA) instrument at the Dunn Solar Telescope. The dataset comprises simultaneous imaging in the H$α$ core, Ca II K, and G band of an on-disk quiet Sun region. Time-distance techniques are used to study the characteristics of the transverse oscillations. We detect over 40 transverse oscillations in both bright and dark mottles, with periods ranging from 70 to 280 s, with the most frequent occurrence at ~ 165 s. The velocity amplitudes and transverse displacements exhibit characteristics similar to limb spicules. Neighbouring mottles oscillating in-phase are also observed. The transverse oscillations of individual mottles are interpreted in terms of magnetohydrodynamic kink waves. Their estimated periods and damping times are consistent with phase mixing and resonant mode conversion.

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arXiv2011

Determination of sub-resolution structure of jet by solar magnetoseismology

A thin dark thread is observed in a UV/EUV solar jet in the 171A, 193A and 211A and partially in 304A. The dark thread appears to originate in the chromosphere but its temperature does not appear to lie within the passbands of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We therefore implement solar magnetoseismology to estimate the plasma parameters of the dark thread. A propagating fast kink (transverse) wave is observed to travel along the dark thread. The wave is tracked over a range of ~7000km by placing multiple slits along the axis of the dark thread. The phase speed and amplitude of the wave are estimated and magnetoseismological theory is employed to determine the plasma parameters. We are able to estimate the plasma temperature, density gradient, magnetic field gradient and sub-resolution expansion of the dark thread. The dark thread is found to be cool, T~3x10^4$ with both strong density and magnetic field gradients. The expansion of the flux tube along its length is ~300-400km.

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arXiv2010

Damping of longitudinal magneto-acoustic oscillations in slowly varying coronal plasma

We investigate the propagation of MHD waves in a homogenous, magnetized plasma in a weakly stratified atmosphere, representing hot coronal loops. In most of earlier studies a time-independent equilibrium is considered. Here we abandon this restriction and allow the equilibrium to develop as function of time. In particular, the background plasma is assumed to be cooling due to thermal conduction. The cooling is assumed to be on a time scale greater than the characteristic travel times of the perturbations. We investigate the influence of cooling of the background plasma on the properties of magneto-acoustic waves. The MHD equations are reduced to a 1-D system modelling magneto-acoustic modes progressing along a dynamically cooling coronal loop. A time dependent dispersion relation which describes the propagation of the magneto-acoustic waves is derived by using the WKB theory. An analytic solution for the time-dependent amplitude of waves is obtained and the method of characteristics is used to find an approximate analytical solution. Numerical calculations are applied to the analytically derived solutions to obtain further insight into the behavior of the MHD waves in a system with variable, time-dependent background. The results show that there is a strong damping of MHD waves that can be linked to the widely observed damping of hot coronal loop oscillations. The damping also appears to be independent of position along the loop. Studies of MHD wave behaviour in time-dependent background seem to be a fundamental and very important next step in developing MHD wave theory applicable to a wide range in solar physics.

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arXiv2010

Non-axisymmetric oscillations of stratified coronal magnetic loops with elliptical cross-sections

We study non-axisymmetric oscillations of a straight magnetic tube with an elliptic cross-section and density varying along the tube. The governing equations for kink and fluting modes in the thin tube approximation are derived. We found that there are two kink modes, polarised along the large and small axes of the elliptic cross-section. We have shown that the ratio of frequencies of the first overtone and fundamental harmonic is the same for both kink modes and independent of the ratio of the ellipse axes. On the basis of this result we concluded that the estimates of the atmospheric scale height obtained using simultaneous observations of the fundamental harmonic and first overtone of the coronal loop kink oscillations are independent of the ellipticity of the loop cross-section.

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arXiv2010

Observations of sausage modes in magnetic pores

We present here evidence for the observation of the magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) sausage modes in magnetic pores in the solar photosphere. Further evidence for the omnipresent nature of acoustic global modes is also found. The empirical decomposition method of wave analysis is used to identify the oscillations detected through a 4170 Å 'blue continuum' filter observed with the Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere (ROSA) instrument. Out of phase, periodic behavior in pore size and intensity is used as an indicator of the presence of magneto-acoustic sausage oscillations. Multiple signatures of the magneto-acoustic sausage mode are found in a number of pores. The periods range from as short as 30 s up to 450 s. A number of the magneto-acoustic sausage mode oscillations found have periods of 3 and 5 minutes, similar to the acoustic global modes of the solar interior. It is proposed that these global oscillations could be the driver of the sausage type magneto-acoustic MHD wave modes in pores.

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