Oscillations above sunspots from the temperature minimum to the corona

Context. An analysis of the oscillations above sunspots was carried out using simultaneous ground-based and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observations (SiI 10827A, HeI 10830A, FeI 6173A, 1700A, HeII 304A, FeIX 171A). Aims. Investigation of the spatial distribution of oscillation power in the frequency range 1-8 mHz for the different height levels of the solar atmosphere. Measuring the time lags between the oscillations at the different layers. Methods. We used frequency filtration of the intensity and Doppler velocity variations with Morlet wavelet to trace the wave propagation from the photosphere to the chromosphere and the corona. Results. The 15 min oscillations are concentrated near the outer penumbra in the upper photosphere (1700 A), forming a ring, that expands in the transition zone. These oscillations propagate upward and reach the corona level, where their spatial distribution resembles a fan structure. The spatial distribution of the 5 min oscillation power looks like a circle-shape structure matching the sunspot umbra border at the photospheric level. The circle expands at the higher levels (HeII 304A and FeIX 171A). This indicates that the low-frequency oscillations propagate along the inclined magnetic tubes in the spot. We found that the inclination of the tubes reaches 50--60 degrees in the upper chromosphere and the transition zone. The main oscillation power in the 5-8 mHz range concentrates within the umbra boundaries at all the levels. The highest frequency oscillations (8 mHz) are located in the peculiar points inside the umbra. These points probably coincide with umbral dots. We deduced the propagation velocities to be 28+-15 km/s, 26+-15 km/s, and 55+-10 km/s for the SiI 10827A-HeI 10830A, 1700A-HeII 304A, and HeII 304A-FeIX 171A height levels, respectively

Problems in Observation and Identification of Torsional Waves in the Lower Solar Atmosphere

Registering periodic variations of spectral line widths serves as the main method for observing torsional Alfv\'{e}n waves. Theoretically, the method seems valid, yet it entails a number of caveats when applied to data. For instance, the amplitudes of these observations should vary with changes of the location on the disk, and they should be associated with no intensity oscillations. We analyze extensive observational material of periodic non-thermal variations of line widths in coronal holes and facular regions in a number of spectral lines: H{\alpha}, He I 10830 {\AA}, Ca II 8542 {\AA}, Ba II 4554 {\AA}. In most cases, we detected associated intensity oscillations at similar frequencies. Besides, we observed no centre-to-limb dependency. This calls for a discussion on the practical validity of the method and on the alternative explanations for the nature of non-thermal variations of spectral line widths. Based on our observations, we consider registering line profile broadening a necessary but not sufficient means for unambiguous identification of torsional Alfv\'{e}n waves in the lower solar atmosphere

Features of spatial distribution of oscillations in faculae regions

We found that oscillations of LOS velocity in H-alpha are different for various parts of faculae regions. Power spectra show that the contribution of low-frequency modes (1.2 - 2 mHz) increase at the network boundaries. Three and five- minute periods dominate inside cells. The spectra of photosphere and chromosphere LOS velocity oscillations differ for most faculae. On the other hand, we detected several cases where propagating oscillations in faculae were manifest with a five-minute period. Their initiation point on spatial-temporal diagrams coincided with the local maximum of the longitudinal magnetic field.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Multilevel Analysis of Oscillation Motions in Active Regions of the Sun

We present a new method that combines the results of an oscillation study made in optical and radio observations. The optical spectral measurements in photospheric and chromospheric lines of the line-of-sight velocity were carried out at the Sayan Solar Observatory. The radio maps of the Sun were obtained with the Nobeyama Radioheliograph at 1.76 cm. Radio sources associated with the sunspots were analyzed to study the oscillation processes in the chromosphere-corona transition region in the layer with magnetic field B=2000 G. A high level of instability of the oscillations in the optical and radio data was found. We used a wavelet analysis for the spectra. The best similarities of the spectra of oscillations obtained by the two methods were detected in the three-minute oscillations inside the sunspot umbra for the dates when the active regions were situated near the center of the solar disk. A comparison of the wavelet spectra for optical and radio observations showed a time delay of about 50 seconds of the radio results with respect to optical ones. This implies a MHD wave traveling upward inside the umbral magnetic tube of the sunspot. Besides three-minute and five-minute ones, oscillations with longer periods (8 and 15 minutes) were detected in optical and radio records.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, accepted to Solar Physics (18 Jan 2011). The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.co

Multiwavelength studies of MHD waves in the solar chromosphere: An overview of recent results

The chromosphere is a thin layer of the solar atmosphere that bridges the relatively cool photosphere and the intensely heated transition region and corona. Compressible and incompressible waves propagating through the chromosphere can supply significant amounts of energy to the interface region and corona. In recent years an abundance of high-resolution observations from state-of-the-art facilities have provided new and exciting ways of disentangling the characteristics of oscillatory phenomena propagating through the dynamic chromosphere. Coupled with rapid advancements in magnetohydrodynamic wave theory, we are now in an ideal position to thoroughly investigate the role waves play in supplying energy to sustain chromospheric and coronal heating. Here, we review the recent progress made in characterising, categorising and interpreting oscillations manifesting in the solar chromosphere, with an impetus placed on their intrinsic energetics.Comment: 48 pages, 25 figures, accepted into Space Science Review

Propagating waves in the sunspot umbra chromosphere

We investigate the line-of-sight velocity oscillations in the sunspot NOAA 0051 during its disk transit. The data obtained in this study provide evidence for the existence of running umbral waves in the chromosphere. These waves have a period of 2.8 min and propagate from the sunspot center outward with the phase velocity of 45–60 km s-1 with the line-of-sight velocity amplitude of about 2 km s-1. In most cases the waves terminate rather abruptly on the umbra boundary and show no direct linkage with running penumbral waves. The spatial coherence of the waves at the umbra center is no more than 2″. At the photospheric level there are clearly pronounced periodic motions (T ~ 5 min) propagating from the inner penumbral boundary and from the superpenumbra to the lines of maximum Evershed velocity