I. Arregui

Determination of the Coronal Density Stratification from the Observation of Harmonic Coronal Loop Oscillations

The recent detection of multiple harmonic standing transverse oscillations in coronal loops by Verwichte et al. is of special importance, as it allows one to obtain information on the longitudinal density variation in loops. Verwichte et al. detected the simultaneous presence of both the fundamental and the first-overtone mode in two coronal loops. Here we point out that the ratio of the period of the fundamental mode to the period of the overtone mode differs from 2 in loops with longitudinal density stratification. Conversely, the difference between this ratio and 2 can be used as a seismological tool to obtain information about the density scale height in loops.

Coronal loop oscillations Calculation of resonantly damped MHD quasi-mode kink oscillations of longitudinally stratified loops

The observed coronal loop oscillations and their damping are often theoretically described by the use of a very simple coronal loop model, viz. a straight, longitudinally invariant, axi-symmetric, and pressureless flux tube with a different density inside and outside of the loop. In this paper we generalize the model by including longitudinal density stratification and we examine how the longitudinal density stratification alters the linear eigenmodes of the system, their oscillation frequencies, and the damping rates by resonant absorption.

On the nature of kink MHD waves in magnetic flux tubes

Context. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves are often reported in the solar atmosphere and usually classified as slow, fast, or Alfven. The possibility that these waves have mixed properties is often ignored. Aims. The goal of this work is to study and determine the nature of MHD kink waves. Methods. This is done by calculating the frequency, the damping rate and the eigenfunctions of MHD kink waves for three widely different MHD waves cases: a compressible pressure-less plasma, an incompressible plasma and a compressible plasma which allows for MHD radiation. Results. In all three cases the frequency and the damping rate are for practical purposes the same as they differ at most by terms proportional to (kzR) 2 . In the magnetic flux tube the kink waves are in all three cases, to a high degree of accuracy incompressible waves with negligible pressure perturbations and with mainly horizontal motions. The main restoring force of kink waves in the magnetised flux tube is the magnetic tension force. The total pressure gradient force cannot be neglected except when the frequency of the kink wave is equal or slightly differs from the local Alfven frequency, i.e. in the resonant layer. Conclusions. Kink waves are very robust and do not care about the details of the MHD wave environment. The adjective fast is not the correct adjective to characterise kink waves. If an adjective is to be used it should be Alfvenic. However, it is better to realize that kink waves have mixed properties and cannot be put in one single box.

MHD seismology of coronal loops using the period and damping of quasi-mode kink oscillations

Aims. We combine the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory of resonantly damped quasi-mode kink oscillations with observational estimates of the period and damping of transverse coronal loop oscillations to extract information on physical parameters in oscillating loops. Methods. A numerical study of the quasi-mode period and damping, in one-dimensional fully non-uniform flux tubes, is used to obtain equilibrium models that reproduce the observed periods and damping rates. This scheme is applied to 11 loop oscillation events. Results. When only the damping rate is used, the valid equilibrium models form a one-dimensional solution curve in the two-dimensional parameter space (density contrast, transverse inhomogeneity length-scale). Lower limits to the transverse inhomogeneity are obtained in the limit of high contrast loops. When both the period and the damping rate are used, the equilibrium Alfven speed (or Alfven travel time) comes into play. The valid equilibrium models then form a one-dimensional solution curve in the three-dimensional parameter space (density contrast, transverse inhomogeneity length-scale, Alfven speed or Alfven travel time). The projection of these solutions onto the Alfven speed axis is found to be constrained to a rather limited interval. Upper limits to the internal Alfven speed are derived for 9 of the 11 analysed events.

Damping of magnetohydrodynamic waves by resonant absorption in the solar atmosphere

In the last decade we have been overwhelmed by an avalanche of discoveries of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory and Transition Region and Coronal Explorer observatories. Both standing and propagating versions of fast magnetoacoustic and slow magnetoacoustic MHD waves have been detected. Information on the damping times and damping distances of these waves is less detailed and less accurate than that on periods and amplitudes. Nevertheless, observations show the damping times and damping lengths are often short. Also, different types of MHD waves in different types of magnetic structures likely require different damping mechanisms. The phenomenon of fast damping is well documented for the standing fast magnetosonic kink waves in coronal loops. This paper concentrates on standing fast magnetosonic waves. It reports on results on periods and damping times due to resonant absorption in one-dimensional and two-dimensional models of coronal loops. Special attention is given to multiple modes.

Analytic approximate seismology of transversely oscillating coronal loops

Aims. We present an analytic approximate seismic inversion scheme for damped transverse coronal loop oscillations based on the thin tube and thin boundary approximation for computing the period and the damping time. Methods. Asymptotic expressions for the period and damping rate are used to illustrate the process of seismological inversion in a simple and easy to follow manner. The inversion procedure is formulated in terms of two simple functions, which are given by simple closed expressions. Results. The analytic seismic inversion shows that an infinite amount of 1-dimensional equilibrium models can reproduce the observed periods and damping times. It predicts a specific range of allowable values for the Alfven travel time and lower bounds for the density contrast and the inhomogeneity length scale. When the results of the present analytic seismic inversion are compared with those of a previous numerical inversion, excellent agreement is found up to the point that the analytic seismic inversion emerges as a tool for validating results of numerical inversions. Actually it helped us to identify and correct inaccuracies in a previous numerical investigation.

SURFACE ALFVEN WAVES IN SOLAR FLUX TUBES

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves are ubiquitous in the solar atmosphere. Alfven waves and magneto-sonic waves are particular classes of MHD waves. These wave modes are clearly different and have pure properties in uniform plasmas of infinite extent only. Due to plasma non-uniformity, MHD waves have mixed properties and cannot be classified as pure Alfven or magneto-sonic waves. However, vorticity is a quantity unequivocally related to Alfven waves as compression is for magneto-sonic waves. Here, we investigate MHD waves superimposed on a one-dimensional non-uniform straight cylinder with constant magnetic field. For a piecewise constant density profile, we find that the fundamental radial modes of the non-axisymmetric waves have the same properties as surface Alfven waves at a true discontinuity in density. Contrary to the classic Alfven waves in a uniform plasma of infinite extent, vorticity is zero everywhere except at the cylinder boundary. If the discontinuity in density is replaced with a continuous variation of density, vorticity is spread out over the whole interval with non-uniform density. The fundamental radial modes of the non-axisymmetric waves do not need compression to exist unlike the radial overtones. In thin magnetic cylinders, the fundamental radial modes of the non-axisymmetric waves with phase velocities between the internal and the external Alfven velocities can be considered as surface Alfven waves. On the contrary, the radial overtones can be related to fast-like magneto-sonic modes.

Resonant Absorption in Complicated Plasma Configurations: Applications to Multistranded Coronal Loop Oscillations

We study the excitation and damping of transverse oscillations in a multistranded model of a straight line-tied coronal loop. The transverse geometry of our equilibrium configuration is quite irregular and more realistic than the usual cylindrical loop model. By numerically solving the time-dependent ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations in two dimensions, we show how the global motion of the whole bundle of strands, excited by an external disturbance, is converted into localized Alfv?nic motions due to the process of resonant absorption. This process produces the attenuation of the transverse oscillations. At any location in the structure, two dominant frequencies are found: the frequency of the global mode or quasi-mode, and the local Alfv?n frequency. We find that the mechanism of mode conversion, due to the coupling between fast and Alfv?n waves, is not compromised by the complicated geometry of the model. We also show that it is possible to have energy conversion not only at the external edge of the composite loop, but also inside the structure. The implications of these results and their relationship with the observations are discussed.

Nonlinear Instability of Kink Oscillations due to Shear Motions

First results from a high-resolution three-dimensional nonlinear numerical study of the kink oscillation are presented. We show in detail the development of a shear instability in an untwisted line-tied magnetic flux tube. The instability produces significant deformations of the tube boundary. An extended transition layer may naturally evolve as a result of the shear instability at a sharp transition between the flux tube and the external medium. We also discuss the possible effects of the instability on the process of resonant absorption when an inhomogeneous layer is included in the model. One of the implications of these results is that the azimuthal component of the magnetic field of a stable flux tube in the solar corona, needed to prevent the shear instability, is probably constrained to be in a very specific range.

Resonantly damped fast MHD kink modes in longitudinally stratified tubes with thick non-uniform transitional layers

Resonantly damped fast kink quasi-modes are computed in fully resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) for two-dimensional equilibrium models. The equilibrium model is a straight cylindrically symmetric flux tube with a plasma density that is non-uniform both across and along the loop. The non-uniform layer across the loop is not restricted to be thin, but its thickness can reach values up to the loop diameter. Our results indicate that the period and damping of coronal loop oscillations mainly depend on the density contrast and the inhomogeneity length-scale and are independent of the details of longitudinal stratification, depending on the weighted mean density, weighted with the wave energy. For fully non-uniform loops, quasi-modes can interact with resistive Alfven eigenmodes leading to avoided crossings and gaps in the complex frequency plane. The present study extends previous studies on coronal loop oscillations in one-dimensional equilibrium models with thick boundary layers and in equilibria with longitudinally stratified loops under the thin boundary approximation, and allow for a better comparison between observations and theory raising the prospect of coronal seismology using the time damping of coronal loop oscillations.