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T. V. Zaqarashvili

Publications and source records attributed to T. V. Zaqarashvili.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Observation of Kink Instability as Driver of Recurrent Flares in AR 10960

We study the active region NOAA 10960, which produces two flare events (B5.0, M8.9) on 04 June 2007. We find the observational signature of right handed helical twists in the loop system associated with this active region. The first B5.0 flare starts with the activation of helical twist showing ~3 turns. However, after ~20 minutes another helical twist (with ~2 turns) appears, which triggers M8.9 flare. Both helical structures were closely associated with a small positive polarity sunspot in the AR. We interpret these observations as evidence of kink instability, which triggers the recurrent solar flares.

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Quasi-biennial oscillations in the solar tachocline caused by magnetic Rossby wave instabilities

Quasi-biennial oscillations (QBO) are frequently observed in the solar activity indices. However, no clear physical mechanism for the observed variations has been suggested so far. Here we study the stability of magnetic Rossby waves in the solar tachocline using the shallow water magnetohydrodynamic approximation. Our analysis shows that the combination of typical differential rotation and a toroidal magnetic field with a strength > 10^5 G triggers the instability of the m=1 magnetic Rossby wave harmonic with a period of 2 years. This harmonic is antisymmetric with respect to the equator and its period (and growth rate) depends on the differential rotation parameters and the magnetic field strength. The oscillations may cause a periodic magnetic flux emergence at the solar surface and consequently may lead to the observed QBO in the solar activity features. The period of QBO may change throughout the cycle, and from cycle to cycle, due to variations of the mean magnetic field and differential rotation in the tachocline.

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Numerical simulations of spicule formation in the solar atmosphere

We study the upward propagation of a localized velocity pulse that is initially launched below the transition region within the solar atmosphere. The pulse quickly steepens into a shock, which may lead to the formation of spicules. We solve two-dimensional time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic equations numerically to find spatial and temporal dynamics of spicules. The numerical simulations show that the strong initial pulse may lead to the quasi periodic rising of chromospheric material into the lower corona in the form of spicules. The periodicity results from the nonlinear wake that is formed behind the pulse in the stratified atmosphere. The superposition of raising and falling off plasma portions resembles the time sequence of single and double (sometimes even triple) spicules, which is consistent with observational findings. The two-dimensional rebound shock model may explain the observed speed, width, and heights of type I spicules, as well as observed multi-structural and bi-directional flows. The model also predicts the appearance of spicules with 3-5 min period due to the consecutive shocks.

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Observation of kink instability during small B5.0 solar flare on 04 June, 2007

Using multi-wavelength observations of SoHO/MDI, SOT-Hinode/blue-continuum (4504 Å), G-band (4305 Å), Ca II H (3968 Å) and TRACE 171 Å, we present the observational signature of highly twisted magnetic loop in AR 10960 during the period 04:43 UT-04:52 UT at 4 June, 2007. SOT-Hinode/blue-continuum (4504 Å) observations show that penumbral filaments of positive polarity sunspot have counter-clock wise twist, which may be caused by the clock-wise rotation of the spot umbrae. The coronal loop, whose one footpoint is anchored in this sunspot, shows strong right-handed twist in chromospheric SOT-Hinode/Ca II H (3968 Å) and coronal TRACE 171 Å\, images. The length and the radius of the loop are $L\sim$80 Mm and $a\sim$4.0 Mm respectively. The distance between neighboring turns of magnetic field lines (i.e. pitch) is estimated as $\approx$ 10 Mm. The total twist angle, $Φ\sim$12$π$ (estimated for the homogeneous distribution of the twist along the loop), is much larger than the Kruskal -Shafranov instability criterion. We detected clear double structure of the loop top during 04:47-04:51 UT on TRACE 171 Å\ images, which is consistent with simulated kink instability in curved coronal loops (T{ö}r{ö}k et al. 2004). We suggest, that the kink instability of this twisted magnetic loop triggered B5.0 class solar flare, which occurred between 04:40 UT and 04:51 UT in this active region.

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Propagation of sausage soliton in the solar lower atmosphere observed by Hinode/SOT

Acoustic waves and pulses propagating from the solar photosphere upwards may quickly develop into shocks due to the rapid decrease of atmospheric density. However, if they propagate along a magnetic flux tube, then the nonlinear steepening may be balanced by tube dispersion effects. This may result in the formation of sausage soliton. The aim of this letter is to report an observational evidence of sausage soliton in the solar chromosphere. Time series of Ca II H line obtained at the solar limb with the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on the board of Hinode is analysed. Observations show an intensity blob, which propagates from 500 km to 1700 km above the solar surface with the mean apparent speed of 35 km s$^{-1}$. The speed is much higher than expected local sound speed, therefore the blob can not be a simple pressure pulse. The blob speed, length to width ratio and relative intensity correspond to slow sausage soliton propagating along a magnetic tube. The blob width is increased with height corresponding to the magnetic tube expansion in the stratified atmosphere. Propagation of the intensity blob can be the first observational evidence of slow sausage soliton in the solar atmosphere.

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Magnetic Rossby waves in the solar tachocline and Rieger-type periodicities

Apart from the 11-year solar cycle, another periodicity around 155-160 days was discovered during solar cycle 21 in high energy solar flares, and its presence in sunspot areas and strong magnetic flux has been also reported. This periodicity has an elusive and enigmatic character, since it usually appears only near the maxima of solar cycles, and seems to be related with a periodic emergence of strong magnetic flux at the solar surface. Therefore, it is probably connected with the tachocline, a thin layer located near the base of the solar convection zone, where strong dynamo magnetic field is stored. We study the dynamics of Rossby waves in the tachocline in the presence of a toroidal magnetic field and latitudinal differential rotation. Our analysis shows that the magnetic Rossby waves are generally unstable and that the growth rates are sensitive to the magnetic field strength and to the latitudinal differential rotation parameters. Variation of the differential rotation and the magnetic field strength throughout the solar cycle enhance the growth rate of a particular harmonic in the upper part of the tachocline around the maximum of the solar cycle. This harmonic is symmetric with respect to the equator and has a period of 155-160 days. A rapid increase of the wave amplitude could give place to a magnetic flux emergence leading to observed periodicities in solar activity indicators related with magnetic flux.

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Oscillations and waves in solar spicules

Since their discovery, spicules have attracted increased attention as energy/mass bridges between the dense and dynamic photosphere and the tenuous hot solar corona. Mechanical energy of photospheric random and coherent motions can be guided by magnetic field lines, spanning from the interior to the upper parts of the solar atmosphere, in the form of waves and oscillations. Since spicules are one of the most pronounced features of the chromosphere, the energy transport they participate in can be traced by the observations of their oscillatory motions. Oscillations in spicules have been observed for a long time. However the recent high-resolutions and high-cadence space and ground based facilities with superb spatial, temporal and spectral capacities brought new aspects in the research of spicule dynamics. Here we review the progress made in imaging and spectroscopic observations of waves and oscillations in spicules. The observations are accompanied by a discussion on theoretical modelling and interpretations of these oscillations. Finally, we embark on the recent developments made on the presence and role of Alfven and kink waves in spicules. We also address the extensive debate made on the Alfven versus kink waves in the context of the explanation of the observed transverse oscillations of spicule axes.

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Acoustic oscillations in the field-free, gravitationally stratified Acoustic oscillations in the field-free, gravitationally stratified cavities under solar bipolar magnetic canopies

The main goal is to study the dynamics of the gravitationally stratified, field-free cavities in the solar atmosphere, located under small-scale, cylindrical magnetic canopies, in response to explosive events in the lower-lying regions (due to granulation, small-scale magnetic reconnection, etc.). We derive the two-dimensional Klein-Gordon equation for isothermal density perturbations in cylindrical coordinates. The equation is first solved by a standard normal mode analysis in order to obtain the free oscillation spectrum of the cavity. Then, the equation is solved in the case of impulsive forcing associated to a pressure pulse specified in the lower-lying regions. The normal mode analysis shows that the entire cylindrical cavity of granular dimensions tends to oscillate with frequencies of 5-8 mHz and also with the atmospheric cut-off frequency. Furthermore, the passage of a pressure pulse, excited in the convection zone, sets up a wake in the cavity oscillating with the same cut-off frequency. The wake oscillations can resonate with the free oscillation modes, which leads to an enhanced observed oscillation power. The resonant oscillations of these cavities explain the observed power halos near magnetic network cores and active regions.

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Network Loop Oscillations with EIS/Hinode

We analyze a time sequence of He II 256.32 angstrom images obtained with EIS/Hinode, sampling a small magnetic loop in magnetic network. Wavelet analysis indicates 11-min periodicity close to the loop apex. We interprete this oscillation as forcing through upward leakage by the fundamental acoustic eigenmode of the underlying field-free cavity. The observed loop length corresponds to the value predicted from this mechanism.

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Global shallow water magnetohydrodynamic waves in the solar tachocline

We derive analytical solutions and dispersion relations of global magnetic Poincaré (magneto-gravity) and magnetic Rossby waves in the approximation of shallow water magnetohydrodynamics. The solutions are obtained in a rotating spherical coordinate system for strongly and weakly stable stratification separately in the presence of toroidal magnetic field. In both cases magnetic Rossby waves split into fast and slow magnetic Rossby modes. In the case of strongly stable stratification (valid in the radiative part of the tachocline) all waves are slightly affected by the layer thickness and the toroidal magnetic field, while in the case of weakly stable stratification (valid in the upper overshoot layer of the tachocline) magnetic Poincaré and fast magnetic Rossby waves are found to be concentrated near the solar equator, leading to equatorially trapped waves. However, slow magnetic Rossby waves tend to concentrate near the poles, leading to polar trapped waves. The frequencies of all waves are smaller in the upper weakly stable stratification region than in the lower strongly stable stratification one.

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Helical motion of magnetic flux tubes in the solar atmosphere

Photospheric granulation may excite transverse kink pulses in anchored vertical magnetic flux tubes. The pulses propagate upwards along the tubes with the kink speed, while oscillating wakes are formed behind the wave front in a stratified atmosphere. The wakes oscillate at the kink cut-off frequency of stratified medium and gradually decay in time. When two or more consecutive kink pulses with different polarizations propagate in the same thin tube, then the wakes corresponding to different pulses may superimpose. The superposition sets up helical motions of magnetic flux tubes in the photosphere/chromosphere as seen by recent Hinode movies. The energy carried by the pulses is enough to heat the solar chrmosphere/corona and accelerate the solar wind.

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Observation of multiple sausage oscillations in cool postflare loop

Using simultaneous high spatial (1.3 arc sec) and temporal (5 and 10 s) resolution H-alpha observations from the 15 cm Solar Tower Telescope at ARIES, we study the oscillations in the relative intensity to explore the possibility of sausage oscillations in the chromospheric cool postflare loop. We use standard wavelet tool, and find the oscillation period of ~ 587 s near the loop apex, and ~ 349 s near the footpoint. We suggest that the oscillations represent the fundamental and the first harmonics of fast sausage waves in the cool postflare loop. Based on the period ratio P1/P2 ~ 1.68, we estimate the density scale height in the loop as ~ 17 Mm. This value is much higher than the equilibrium scale height corresponding to H-alpha temperature, which probably indicates that the cool postflare loop is not in hydrostatic equilibrium. Seismologically estimated Alfvén speed outside the loop is ~ 300-330 km/s. The observation of multiple oscillations may play a crucial role in understanding the dynamics of lower solar atmosphere, complementing such oscillations already reported in the upper solar atmosphere (e.g., hot flaring loops).

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Intensity oscillations observed with Hinode near the south pole of the Sun: leakage of low frequency magneto-acoustic waves into the solar corona

Aims. To study intensity oscillations in the solar chromosphere/corona above a quiet-Sun magnetic network. Methods. We analyse the time series of He II 256.32, Fe XI 188.23 and Fe XII 195.12 spectral lines observed by EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on board Hinode near the south pole. Then we use a standard wavelet tool to produce power spectra of intensity oscillations above the magnetic network. Results. We get ~7 min intensity oscillations in all spectral lines and ~13 min intensity oscillations only in He II with the probability of ~96-98 %, which probably reflects the process of magneto-acoustic wave propagation above the network. Conclusions. We suggest that field-free cavity areas under bipolar magnetic canopies in the vicinity of magnetic network may serve as resonators for the magneto-acoustic waves. The cavities with photospheric sound speed and granular dimensions may produce the waves with the observed periods. The waves may propagate upwards in the transition region/corona and cause observed intensity oscillations.

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Acoustic oscillations in a field-free cavity under solar small-scale bipolar magnetic canopy

Observations show the increase of high-frequency wave power near magnetic network cores and active regions in the solar lower atmosphere. This phenomenon can be explained by the interaction of acoustic waves with a magnetic field. We consider small-scale, bipolar, magnetic field canopy structure near the network cores and active regions overlying field-free cylindrical cavities of the photosphere. Solving the plasma equations we get the analytical dispersion relation of acoustic oscillations in the field-free cavity area. We found that the m = 1 mode, where m is azimuthal wave number, cannot be trapped under the canopy due to energy leakage upwards. However, higher ($m \geq 2$) harmonics can be easily trapped leading to the observed acoustic power halos under the canopy.

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Amplification of compressional MHD waves in systems with forced entropy oscillations

The propagation of compressional MHD waves is studied for an externally driven system. It is assumed that the combined action of the external sources and sinks of the entropy results in the harmonic oscillation of the entropy (and temperature) in the system. It is found that with the appropriate resonant conditions fast and slow waves get amplified due to the phenomenon of parametric resonance. Besides, it is shown that the considered waves are mutually coupled as a consequence of the nonequilibrium state of the background medium. The coupling is strongest when the plasma $β\approx 1$. The proposed formalism is sufficiently general and can be applied for many dynamical systems, both under terrestrial and astrophysical conditions.

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Doppler shift oscillations in solar spicules

Consecutive height series of Ha spectra in solar limb spicules taken on the 53 cm coronagraph of Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory at the heights of 3800-8700 km above the photosphere have been analyzed. The aim is to observe oscillatory phenomena in spicules and consequently to trace wave propagations through the chromosphere. The Discrete Fourier Transform analysis of Ha Doppler shift time series constructed from the observed spectra at each height is used. Doppler velocities of solar limb spicules show oscillations with periods of 20-55 and 75-110 s. There is also the clear evidence of 3-min oscillations at the observed heights. The oscillations can be caused by wave propagations in thin magnetic flux tubes anchored in the photosphere. We suggest the granulation as a possible source for the wave excitation. Observed waves can be used as a tool for spicule seismology; the magnetic field strength in spicules at the height of about 6000 km above the photosphere is estimated as 12-15 G.

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Rossby waves in "shallow water" magnetohydrodynamics

The influence of a toroidal magnetic field on the dynamics of Rossby waves in a thin layer of ideal conductive fluid on a rotating sphere is studied in the "shallow water" magnetohydrodynamic approximation for the first time. Dispersion relations for magnetic Rossby waves are derived analytically in Cartesian and spherical coordinates. It is shown that the magnetic field causes the splitting of low order (long wavelength) Rossby waves into two different modes, here denoted fast and slow {\em magnetic Rossby waves}. The high frequency mode (the fast magnetic Rossby mode) corresponds to an ordinary hydrodynamic Rossby wave slightly modified by the magnetic field, while the low frequency mode (the slow magnetic Rossby mode) has new and interesting properties since its frequency is significantly smaller than that of the same harmonics of pure Rossby and Alfv{é}n waves.

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Torsional oscillations of longitudinally inhomogeneous coronal loops

We explore the effect of an inhomogeneous mass density field on frequencies and wave profiles of torsional Alfven oscillations in solar coronal loops. Dispersion relations for torsional oscillations are derived analytically in limits of weak and strong inhomogeneities. These analytical results are verified by numerical solutions, which are valid for a wide range of inhomogeneity strength. It is shown that the inhomogeneous mass density field leads to the reduction of a wave frequency of torsional oscillations, in comparison to that of estimated from mass density at the loop apex. This frequency reduction results from the decrease of an average Alfven speed as far as the inhomogeneous loop is denser at its footpoints. The derived dispersion relations and wave profiles are important for potential observations of torsional oscillations which result in periodic variations of spectral line widths. Torsional oscillations offer an additional powerful tool for a development of coronal seismology.

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