arXiv subjects

T. Van Doorsselaere

Publications and source records attributed to T. Van Doorsselaere.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Understanding uniturbulence: self-cascade of MHD waves in the presence of inhomogeneities

It is widely accepted in the MHD turbulence community that the nonlinear cascade of wave energy requires counter-propagating Alfvénic wave-packets, along some mean magnetic field. This fact is an obvious outcome of the MHD equations under the assumptions of incompressibility and homogeneity. Despite attempts to relax these assumptions in the context of MHD turbulence, the central idea of turbulence generation persists. However, once the assumptions of incompressiblity and homogeneity break down, the generally accepted picture of turbulent cascade generation is not universal. In this paper, we show that perpendicular inhomogeneities (across the mean magnetic field) lead to propagating wave solutions which are necessarily described by co-propagating Elsässer fields, already in the incompressible case. One simple example of these wave solutions is the surface Alfvén wave on a planar discontinuity across the magnetic field. We show through numerical simulations how the nonlinear self-deformation of these unidirectionally propagating waves leads to a cascade of wave energy across the magnetic field. The existence of this type of unidirectional cascade might have an additional strong effect on the turbulent dissipation rate of dominantly outward propagating Alfvénic waves in structured plasma, as in the solar corona and solar wind.

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arXiv2019

Amplitudes and energy fluxes of simulated decayless kink oscillations

Recent observations with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument on the SDO spacecraft have revealed the existence of decayless coronal kink oscillations. These transverse oscillations are not connected to any external phenomena like flares or coronal mass ejections, and show significantly lower amplitudes than the externally excited decaying oscillations. Numerical studies have managed to reproduce such decayless oscillations in the form of footpoint driven standing waves in coronal loops, and to treat them as a possible mechanism for wave heating of the solar corona. Our aim is to investigate the correlation between the observed amplitudes of the oscillations and input the energy flux from different drivers. We perform 3D MHD simulations in single, straight, density-enhanced coronal flux tubes for different drivers, in the presence of gravity. Synthetic images at different spectral lines are constructed with the use of the FoMo code. The development of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability leads to mixing of plasma between the flux tube and the hot corona. Once the KHI is fully developed, the amplitudes of the decayless oscillations show only a weak correlation with the driver strength. We find that low amplitude decayless kink oscillations may correspond to significant energy fluxes of the order of the radiative losses for the Quiet Sun. A clear correlation between the input energy flux and the observed amplitudes from our synthetic imaging data cannot be established. Stronger drivers lead to higher vales of the line width estimated energy fluxes. Finally, estimations of the energy fluxes by spectroscopic data are affected by the LOS angle, favoring combined analysis of imaging and spectroscopic data for single oscillating loops.

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arXiv2019

The nature of Elsässer variables in compressible MHD

The Elsässer variables are often used in studies of plasma turbulence, in helping differentiate between MHD waves propagating parallel or anti-parallel to the main magnetic field. While for pure Alfvén waves in a homogeneous plasma the method is strictly valid, we show that compressible, magnetoacoustic waves are in general described by both Elsässer variables. Furthermore, in a compressible and inhomogeneous plasma, the pure MHD waves (Alfvén, fast and slow) are no longer normal modes, but waves become linearly coupled or display mixed properties of Alfvén and magnetoacoustic nature. These waves are necessarily described by both Elsässer variables and therefore the Elsässer formalism cannot be used to strictly separate parallel and anti-parallel propagating waves. Nevertheless, even in an inhomogeneous plasma, for a highly Alfvénic wave the Elsässer variable corresponding to the propagation direction appears still dominating. We suggest that for Alfvénic waves, the relative amplitude of Elsässer variables depends on the local degree of inhomogeneity and other plasma and wave properties. This finding has implications for turbulence studies in inhomogeneous and compressible plasmas, such as the solar corona and solar wind.

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arXiv2019

Wave heating in gravitationally stratified coronal loops in the presence of resistivity and viscosity

In recent years, coronal loops have been the focus of studies related to the damping of different magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) surface waves and their connection with coronal seismology and wave heating. For a better understanding of wave heating, we need to take into account the effects of different dissipation coefficients such as resistivity and viscosity, the importance of the loop physical characteristics, and the ways gravity can factor into the evolution of these phenomena. We aim to map the sites of energy dissipation from transverse waves in coronal loops in the presence and absence of gravitational stratification and to compare ideal, resistive, and viscous MHD. Using the PLUTO code, we performed 3D MHD simulations of kink waves in single, straight, density-enhanced coronal flux tubes of multiple temperatures. We see the creation of spatially expanded Kelvin-Helmholtz eddies along the loop, which deform the initial monolithic loop profile. For the case of driven oscillations, the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability develops despite physical dissipation, unless very high values of shear viscosity are used. Energy dissipation gets its highest values near the apex, but is present all along the loop. We observe an increased efficiency of wave heating once the kinetic energy saturates at the later stages of the simulation and a turbulent density profile has developed. The inclusion of gravity greatly alters the dynamic evolution of our systems and should not be ignored in future studies. Stronger physical dissipation leads to stronger wave heating in our set-ups. Finally, once the kinetic energy of the oscillating loop starts saturating, all the excess input energy turns into internal energy, resulting in more efficient wave heating.

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arXiv2019

Photospheric plasma and magnetic field dynamics during the formation of solar AR 11190

The Sun features on its surface typical flow patterns called the granulation, mesogranulation, and supergranulation. These patterns arise due to convective flows transporting energy from the interior of the Sun to its surface. In this paper we will shed light on the interaction between the convective flows in large-scale cells as well as the large-scale magnetic fields in active regions, and investigate in detail the statistical distribution of flow velocities during the evolution and formation of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) active region 11190. To do so, we employed local correlation tracking methods on data obtained by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft in the continuum as well as on processed line-of-sight (LOS) magnetograms. We find that the flow fields in an active region can be modelled by a two-component distribution. One component is very stable, follows a Rayleigh distribution, and can be assigned to the background flows, whilst the other component is variable in strength and velocity range and can be attributed to the flux emergence visible both in the continuum maps as well as magnetograms. Generally, the plasma flows, as seen by the distribution of the magnitude of the velocity, follow a Rayleigh distribution even through the time of formation of active regions. However, at certain moments of large-scale fast flux emergence, a second component featuring higher velocities is formed in the velocity magnitudes distribution. The plasma flows are generally highly correlated to the motion of magnetic elements and vice versa except during the times of fast magnetic flux emergence as observed by rising magnetic elements. At these times, the magnetic fields are found to move faster than the corresponding plasma.

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arXiv2018

The polytropic index of solar coronal plasma in sunspot fan loops and its temperature dependence

Observations of slow magneto-acoustic waves have been demonstrated to possess a number of applications in coronal seismology. Determination of the polytropic index ($γ$) is one such important application. Analysing the amplitudes of oscillations in temperature and density corresponding to a slow magneto-acoustic wave, the polytropic index in the solar corona has been calculated and based on the obtained value it has been inferred that thermal conduction is highly suppressed in a very hot loop in contrast to an earlier report of high thermal conduction in a relatively colder loop. In this study, using SDO/AIA data, we analysed slow magneto-acoustic waves propagating along sunspot fan loops from 30 different active regions and computed polytropic indices for several loops at multiple spatial positions. The obtained $γ$ values vary from 1.04$\pm$0.01 to 1.58$\pm$0.12 and most importantly display a temperature dependence indicating higher $γ$ at hotter temperatures. This behaviour brings both the previous studies to agreement and perhaps implies a gradual suppression of thermal conduction with increase in temperature of the loop. The observed phase shifts between temperature and density oscillations, however, are substantially larger than that expected from a classical thermal conduction and appear to be influenced by a line-of-sight integration effect on the emission measure.

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arXiv2018

Assessing the Capabilities of Dynamic Coronal Seismology of Alfvénic Waves through Forward Modeling

Coronal seismology is a diagnostic tool used in solar physics for measuring parameters that are otherwise hard to measure; of these parameters, magnetic field values are arguably the most important. The parameters are inferred by combining observations of waves with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave theory. To date, coronal seismology has successfully been applied to various single-oscillation events. Such events are relatively rare, resulting in rare occasions to use diagnostics. Ubiquitous waves in the solar atmosphere might, however, allow for the possibility of dynamic coronal seismology, which involves the continuous inversions of coronal parameters and would constitute a huge leap forward in many areas of solar physics. In this paper, we investigate the robustness and accuracy of magnetic field diagnostics applied to forward-modeled 3D MHD simulations of propagating Alfvénic waves. We find that the seismologically measured magnetic field values are reassuringly close to the input value (within 20%) for a range of setups studied, providing encouragement and confidence for the further development of dynamic coronal seismology.

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arXiv2018

Simulations of fully deformed oscillating flux tubes

In recent years, a number of numerical studies have been focusing on the significance of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) in the dynamics of oscillating coronal loops. This process enhances the transfer of energy into smaller scales, and has been connected with heating of coronal loops, when dissipation mechanisms, such as resistivity, are considered. However, the turbulent layer is expected near the outer regions of the loops. Therefore, the effects of wave heating are expected to be confined to the loop's external layers, leaving their denser inner parts without a heating mechanism. In the current work we aim to study the spatial evolution of wave heating effects from a footpoint driven standing kink wave in a coronal loop. Using the MPI-AMRVAC code, we performed ideal, three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations of footpoint driven transverse oscillations of a cold, straight coronal flux tube, embedded in a hotter environment. We have also constructed forward models for our simulation using the FoMo code. The developed Transverse Wave Induced Kelvin-Helmholtz (TWIKH) rolls expand throughout the tube cross-section, and cover it entirely. This turbulence significantly alters the initial density profile, leading to a fully deformed cross section. As a consequence, the resistive and viscous heating rate both increase over the entire loop cross section. The resistive heating rate takes its maximum values near the footpoints, while the viscous heating rate at the apex. We conclude that even a monoperiodic driver can spread wave heating over the whole loop cross section, potentially providing a heating source in the inner loop region. Despite the loop's fully deformed structure, forward modelling still shows the structure appearing as a loop.

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arXiv2017

Effect of magnetic twist on nonlinear transverse kink oscillations

Magnetic twist is thought to play an important role in many structures of the solar atmosphere. One of the effects of twist is to modify the properties of the eigenmodes of magnetic tubes. In the linear regime standing kink solutions are characterized by a change in polarization of the transverse displacement along the twisted tube. In the nonlinear regime, magnetic twist affects the development of shear instabilities that appear at the tube boundary when it is oscillating laterally. These Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities (KHI) are produced either by the jump in the azimuthal component of the velocity at the edge of the sharp boundary between the internal and external part of the tube, or either by the continuous small length-scales produced by phase-mixing when there is a smooth inhomogeneous layer. In this work the effect of twist is consistently investigated by solving the time-dependent problem including the process of energy transfer to the inhomogeneous layer. It is found that twist always delays the appearance of the shear instability but for tubes with thin inhomogeneous layers the effect is relatively small for moderate values of twist. On the contrary, for tubes with thick layers, the effect of twist is much stronger. This can have some important implications regarding observations of transverse kink modes and the KHI itself.

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arXiv2017

Temporal relations between magnetic bright points and the solar sunspot cycle

The Sun shows a global magnetic field cycle traditionally best visible in the photosphere as a changing sunspot cycle featuring roughly an 11 year period. In addition we know that our host star also harbours small-scale magnetic fields often seen as strong concentrations of magnetic flux reaching kG field strengths. These features are situated in inter-granular lanes where they show up bright as so-called magnetic bright points (MBPs). In this short paper we wish to analyse a homogenous nearly 10 year long synoptic Hinode image data set recorded from November 2006 up to February 2016 in the G-band to inspect the relationship between the number of MBPs at the solar disc centre and the relative sunspot number. Our findings suggest that indeed the number of MBPs at the solar disc centre is correlated to the relative sunspot number, but with the particular feature of showing two different temporal shifts between the decreasing phase of cycle 23 including the minimum and the increasing phase of cycle 24 including the maximum. While the former is shifted by about 22 months the later is only shifted by less than 12 months. Moreover, we introduce and discuss an analytical model to predict the number of MBPs at the solar disc centre purely depending on the evolution of the relative sunspot number as well as the temporal change of the relative sunspot number and two background parameters describing a possibly acting surface dynamo as well as the strength of the magnetic field diffusion. Finally, we are able to confirm the plausibility of the temporal shifts by a simplistic random walk model. The main conclusion to be drawn from this work is that the injection of magnetic flux, coming from active regions as represented by sunspots, happens on faster time scales than the removal of small-scale magnetic flux elements later on.

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arXiv2017

The Frequency-dependent Damping of Slow Magnetoacoustic Waves in a Sunspot Umbral Atmosphere

High spatial and temporal resolution images of a sunspot, obtained simultaneously in multiple optical and UV wavelengths, are employed to study the propagation and damping characteristics of slow magnetoacoustic waves up to transition region heights. Power spectra are generated from intensity oscillations in sunspot umbra, across multiple atmospheric heights, for frequencies up to a few hundred mHz. It is observed that the power spectra display a power-law dependence over the entire frequency range, with a significant enhancement around 5.5 mHz found for the chromospheric channels. The phase-difference spectra reveal a cutoff frequency near 3 mHz, up to which the oscillations are evanescent, while those with higher frequencies propagate upwards. The power-law index appears to increase with atmospheric height. Also, shorter damping lengths are observed for oscillations with higher frequencies suggesting frequency-dependent damping. Using the relative amplitudes of the 5.5 mHz (3 minute) oscillations, we estimate the energy flux at different heights, which seems to decay gradually from the photosphere, in agreement with recent numerical simulations. Furthermore, a comparison of power spectra across the umbral radius highlights an enhancement of high-frequency waves near the umbral center, which does not seem to be related to magnetic field inclination angle effects.

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arXiv2017

Observations of apparent superslow wave propagation in solar prominences

Phase mixing of standing continuum Alfvén waves and/or continuum slow waves in atmospheric magnetic structures such as coronal arcades can create the apparent effect of a wave propagating across the magnetic field. We observe a prominence with SDO/AIA on 2015 March 15 and find the presence of oscillatory motion. We aim to demonstrate that interpreting this motion as a magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) wave is faulty. We also connect the decrease of the apparent velocity over time with the phase mixing process, which depends on the curvature of the magnetic field lines. By measuring the displacement of the prominence at different heights to calculate the apparent velocity, we show that the propagation slows down over time, in accordance with the theoretical work of Kaneko et al. We also show that this propagation speed drops below what is to be expected for even slow MHD waves for those circumstances. We use a modified Kippenhahn-Schlüter prominence model to calculate the curvature of the magnetic field and fit our observations accordingly. Measuring three of the apparent waves, we get apparent velocities of 14, 8, and 4 km/s. Fitting a simple model for the magnetic field configuration, we obtain that the filament is located 103 Mm below the magnetic centre. We also obtain that the scale of the magnetic field strength in the vertical direction plays no role in the concept of apparent superslow waves and that the moment of excitation of the waves happened roughly one oscillation period before the end of the eruption that excited the oscillation. Some of the observed phase velocities are lower than expected for slow modes for the circumstances, showing that they rather fit with the concept of apparent superslow propagation. A fit with our magnetic field model allows for inferring the magnetic geometry of the prominence.

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arXiv2017

Oscillations excited by plasmoids formed during magnetic reconnection in vertical gravitationally stratified current-sheet

Using the FLASH code, which solves the full set of the two-dimensional (2-D) non-ideal (resistive) time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, we study processes during the magnetic reconnection in a vertical gravitationally stratified current sheet. We show that during these processes, which correspond to processes in solar flares, plasmoids are formed due to the tearing mode instability of the current sheet. These plasmoids move upwards or downwards along the vertical current sheet, and some of them merge into larger plasmoids. We study the density and temperature structure of these plasmoids and their time evolution in details. We found that during the merging of two plasmoids the resulting larger plasmoid starts to oscillate; in our model with a $\sim 25~\mathrm{s}$ period. On the other hand, the plasmoid moving downwards merges with the underlying flare arcade which also starts to oscillate during this process; in our model with a $\sim 35~\mathrm{s}$ period. It is shown that the merging process of plasmoid with the flare arcade is a complex process as presented by complex density and temperature structures of the oscillating arcade. Moreover, all these processes are associated with magnetoacoustic waves produced by the motion and merging of plasmoids.

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arXiv2017

Heating by transverse waves in simulated coronal loops

Recent numerical studies of oscillating flux tubes have established the significance of resonant absorption in the damping of propagating transverse oscillations in coronal loops. The nonlinear nature of the mechanism has been examined alongside the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, which is expected to manifest in the resonant layers at the edges of the flux tubes. While these two processes have been hypothesized to heat coronal loops through the dissipation of wave energy into smaller scales, the occurring mixing with the hotter surroundings can potentially hide this effect. We aim to study the effects of wave heating from driven and standing kink waves in a coronal loop. Using the MPI-AMRVAC code, we perform ideal, three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of both (a) footpoint driven and (b) free standing oscillations in a straight coronal flux tube, in the presence of numerical resistivity. We have observed the development of Kelvin-Helmholtz eddies at the loop boundary layer of all three models considered here, as well as an increase of the volume averaged temperature inside the loop. The main heating mechanism in our setups was Ohmic dissipation, as indicated by the higher values for the temperatures and current densities located near the footpoints. The introduction of a temperature gradient between the inner tube and the surrounding plasma, suggests that the mixing of the two regions, in the case of hotter environment, greatly increases the temperature of the tube at the site of the strongest turbulence, beyond the contribution of the aforementioned wave heating mechanism.

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arXiv2016

Damping of nonlinear standing kink oscillations: a numerical study

We aim to study the standing fundamental kink mode of coronal loops in the nonlinear regime, investigating the changes in energy evolution in the cross-section and oscillation amplitude of the loop which are related to nonlinear effects, in particular to the development of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). We run idea, high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations, studying the influence of the initial velocity amplitude and the inhomogeneous layer thickness. We model the coronal loop as a straight, homogeneous magnetic flux tube with an outer inhomogeneous layer, embedded in a straight, homogeneous magnetic field. We find that, for low amplitudes which do not allow for the KHI to develop during the simulated time, the damping time agrees with the theory of resonant absorption. However, for higher amplitudes, the presence of KHI around the oscillating loop can alter the loop's evolution, resulting in a significantly faster damping than predicted by the linear theory in some cases. This questions the accuracy of seismological methods applied to observed damping profiles, based on linear theory.

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arXiv2016

The instability and non-existence of multi-stranded loops, when driven by transverse waves

In recent years, omni-present transverse waves have been observed in all layers of the solar atmosphere. Coronal loops are often modeled as a collection of individual strands, in order to explain their thermal behaviour and appearance. We perform 3D ideal MHD simulations to study the effect of a continuous small amplitude transverse footpoint driving on the internal structure of a coronal loop composed of strands. The output is also converted to synthetic images, corresponding to the AIA 171 A and 193 A passbands, using FoMo. We show that the multi-stranded loop ceases to exist in the traditional sense of the word, because the plasma is efficiently mixed perpendicularly to the magnetic field, with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability acting as the main mechanism. The final product of our simulation is mixed loop with density structures on a large range of scales, resembling a power-law. Thus, multi-stranded loops are unstable to driving by transverse waves, and this raises a strong doubt on the usability and applicability of coronal loop models consisting of independent strands.

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arXiv2016

ALMA Observations of the Sun in Cycle 4 and Beyond

This document was created by the Solar Simulations for the Atacama Large Millimeter Observatory Network (SSALMON) in preparation of the first regular observations of the Sun with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), which are anticipated to start in ALMA Cycle 4 in October 2016. The science cases presented here demonstrate that a large number of scientifically highly interesting observations could be made already with the still limited solar observing modes foreseen for Cycle 4 and that ALMA has the potential to make important contributions to answering long-standing scientific questions in solar physics. With the proposal deadline for ALMA Cycle 4 in April 2016 and the Commissioning and Science Verification campaign in December 2015 in sight, several of the SSALMON Expert Teams composed strategic documents in which they outlined potential solar observations that could be feasible given the anticipated technical capabilities in Cycle 4. These documents have been combined and supplemented with an analysis, resulting in recommendations for solar observing with ALMA in Cycle 4. In addition, the detailed science cases also demonstrate the scientific priorities of the solar physics community and which capabilities are wanted for the next observing cycles. The work on this White Paper effort was coordinated in close cooperation with the two international solar ALMA development studies led by T. Bastian (NRAO, USA) and R. Brajsa, (ESO). This document will be further updated until the beginning of Cycle 4 in October 2016. In particular, we plan to adjust the technical capabilities of the solar observing modes once finally decided and to further demonstrate the feasibility and scientific potential of the included science cases by means of numerical simulations of the solar atmosphere and corresponding simulated ALMA observations.

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arXiv2016

Solar science with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array - A new view of our Sun

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a new powerful tool for observing the Sun at high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution. These capabilities can address a broad range of fundamental scientific questions in solar physics. The radiation observed by ALMA originates mostly from the chromosphere - a complex and dynamic region between the photosphere and corona, which plays a crucial role in the transport of energy and matter and, ultimately, the heating of the outer layers of the solar atmosphere. Based on first solar test observations, strategies for regular solar campaigns are currently being developed. State-of-the-art numerical simulations of the solar atmosphere and modeling of instrumental effects can help constrain and optimize future observing modes for ALMA. Here we present a short technical description of ALMA and an overview of past efforts and future possibilities for solar observations at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths. In addition, selected numerical simulations and observations at other wavelengths demonstrate ALMA's scientific potential for studying the Sun for a large range of science cases.

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