A&A 474, 627-632 (2007)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20077661
T. V. Zaqarashvili - E. Khutsishvili - V. Kukhianidze - G. Ramishvili
Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory (Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory), Kazbegi Ave. 2a, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia
Received 18 April 2007 / Accepted 11 August 2007
Abstract
Aims. We analysed the consecutive height series of H
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. Our aim is to observe oscillatory phenomena in spicules and consequently to trace wave propagations through the chromosphere.
Methods. We use the Discrete Fourier Transform analysis of H
Doppler shift time series constructed from the observed spectra at each height.
Results. Doppler velocities of solar limb spicules show oscillations with periods of 20-55 and 75-110 s. There is also clear evidence of 3-min oscillations at the observed heights.
Conclusions. 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 of the wave excitation. Observed waves can be used as a tool for spicule seismology, and the magnetic field strength in spicules at the height of
6000 km above the photosphere is estimated as 12-15 G.
Key words: Sun: chromosphere - Sun: oscillations
It is widely believed that the energy source responsible for heating the coronal plasma up to 1 MK is located in a denser and dynamic photosphere. Chromospheric, structured magnetic fields may guide energy towards the corona and can be dissipated there, thereby heating the ambient plasma. One of most plausible mechanisms for this energy transport are the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. The waves can be generated in photospheric magnetic tubes by the buffeting of granular motions (Roberts 1979; Spruit 1981). Then they may propagate along the chromospheric magnetic field, penetrate the corona and deposit the energy into heat. Therefore observations of oscillatory motions in the chromosphere is a key test of the wave heating theory.
The most pronounced features of the chromosphere in quiet Sun
regions are spicules: jet-like limb structures observed mainly in
the H
line (Beckers 1972). They are concentrated between
supergranule cells and thus are probably formed in regions of
intense magnetic field concentrations, although the formation
mechanism is not known yet (Sterling 2000; but see Roberts 1979; and
De Pontieu et al. 2004). On the other hand, spicules may arise along
the magnetic tubes, which at the same time guide MHD waves from the
photosphere into the corona. Therefore the wave propagation in the
chromosphere may be traced through the oscillatory dynamics of
spicule plasma.
Oscillations in spicules have been observed mostly with a
5 min period (Kulidzanishvili & Zhugzhda 1983; De Pontieu et al. 2003; Xia et al. 2005) and are probably connected with global p-modes. On the other hand, oscillations in spicules with shorter
periods (
1 min) have been reported by Nikolsky & Platova
(1971) as periodic transversal displacements of spicule axes at one
particular height. Recent observations of higher-frequency waves in
the "green'' coronal line during the August 1999 total solar eclipse
(Katsiyannis et al. 2003), in the Fe I 5434
line by the German
Vacuum Tower Telescope on Tenerife (Wunnenberg et al. 2002) and in
the transition region spectral lines by TRACE (Deforest 2004; de Wijn et al. 2005), indicate the significant power at the high frequency branch of oscillations in almost the whole solar atmosphere. This stimulates more searches for short-period
oscillations in spicules. These short-period waves may give
significant input into chromospheric and coronal heating. Note that
the excitation of short-period waves (10-20 s) in photospheric
magnetic flux tubes has recently been proposed by Zaqarashvili & Roberts (2002).
Kukhianidze et al. (2006, hereinafter Paper I) report periodic
spatial distributions of Doppler velocities with height through
spectroscopic analysis of H
height series in solar limb
spicules (3800-8700 km above the photosphere). They find that nearly
20
of the measured height series show a periodic spatial
behaviour with
3500 km. This spatial periodicity in Doppler
velocities was explained as a signature of kink-wave propagation in
spicules. Wave periods were estimated as 35-70 s based on the
expected kink speed in the chromosphere (50-100 km s-1). They
suggest that the observed wave length is shorter (
800-1000 km) at the photospheric level due to the decrease in kink speed. The
estimated wave length at the photospheric level is comparable to the
spatial dimensions of granular cells, so the granulation was
suggested as a possible source of the wave excitation.
Observations of the waves may lead to a solution for coronal heating
problem. Therefore, to seek oscillatory motions in the chromosphere,
we performed a complete analysis of H
series, the
preliminary results of which were presented in the Paper I. Here we
study the temporal dynamics of consecutive H
spectra with
a time interval of
7-8 s between consecutive measurements at
fixed heights, which cover almost a whole life time of spicules
(7-15 min). We show spectroscopic evidence of wave propagation in
the chromosphere in terms of Doppler velocity oscillations in time
at specific heights of solar limb spicules.
![]() |
Figure 1:
Doppler velocity time series at the third ( |
| Open with DEXTER | |
Observations were carried out on the big (53 cm) coronagraph of
Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory (instrumental spectral
resolution and dispersion in H
are 0.04 Å and 1 Å/mm correspondingly) on September 26, 1981 at the solar limb as height series beginning at 3800 km height from the photosphere and upwards (for details, see Khutsishvili 1986). The chromospheric
H
line was used to observe solar limb spicules at 8 different heights. The distance between neighbouring heights was 1
(which was the spatial resolution of
observations), so that the distance
3800-8700 km above the
photosphere was covered. The exposure time was 0.4 s at the four
lower heights and 0.8 s at higher ones. The total duration of each
height series was 7 s. The consecutive height series begins
immediately. Therefore continuous time series of H
spectra
with interval of
7-8 s between consecutive measurements at
each height can be constructed. These time series cover almost a
whole lifetime (from 7 to 15 min) of several spicules.
Each H
line profile from the time series was fitted to a
Gaussian. Then temporal variations of the Gaussian centre with
respect to the photospheric reference line (4371 Å) were studied
at each heights for four different spicules. We calculated the
Doppler shifts, consequently Doppler velocities, with 7-8 s interval
at each height in all spicules. Figure 1 shows the Doppler velocity
time series at third (
5200 km) and fourth (
5900 km)
heights in one of the spicules. Then the spectral analysis of the
time series at all heights was carried out with the Discrete Fourier
Transform (DFT). DFT enables oscillation periods to be revealed with
20-250 s; the shorter periods are restricted due to an interval
between consecutive measurements, while the longer periods are
restricted due to the lifetimes of spicules.
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Figure 2:
Power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in the
spicule I at the heights of 5200 km ( lower panel) and 5900 ( upper
panel). The dotted lines in both plots show 95.5 |
| Open with DEXTER | |
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Figure 3:
Power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in the
spicule II at the heights of 5200 km ( lower panel) and 5900 km
( upper panel). The dotted lines show 95.5 |
| Open with DEXTER | |
In this section, we present the results of DFT in four different
spicules separately. Best fits of H
line profiles to a
Gaussian were found at third (
5200 km) and fourth (
5900 km) heights. The fits were relatively poor at lower and higher
heights. Therefore calculated Doppler shifts are more confident at
the third and fourth heights. For this reason, we first show the
results of DFT for these heights, then turn to general oscillatory
phenomena at all heights.
Figure 2 shows the power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in the spicule I at the heights of 5200 km (below) and 5900 km (up).
The most pronounced periods at the height of 5200 km are 180, 30,
and 17 s (Fig. 2, lower panel). However, the 17 s period is probably
suspicious as it is closer to the time interval between consecutive
measurements (
7-8 s), so the oscillations of Doppler velocity
with the periods of 180 and 30 s are more confident at this height.
The upper panel shows the power spectrum at the height of 5900 km.
Here the most pronounced periods are 180, 90, and 30 s, so the
spicule oscillates with the periods of 30 and 180 s at both heights.
The oscillation with the period of 90 s is also seen but preferably
at the higher height (but note the small peak at the lower height as
well).
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Figure 4:
Power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in the
spicule III at the heights of 5200 km ( lower panel) and 5900 km
( upper panel). The dotted lines show 95.5 |
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Figure 3 shows the power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in
the spicule II at the heights of 5200 km (lower panel) and 5900 km
(upper panel). We see two clear oscillation periods of 120 and 80 s
at both heights. Both periods are above the 98
confidence level.
There is some evidence of a
50 s period at the height of 5200 km, but just below of the 95.5
confidence level.
Figure 4 shows the power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in
the spicule III at the heights of 5200 km (lower panel) and 5900 km
(upper panel). The spicule shows the oscillations with 37 s period
at the height of 5200 km and with a 35 s period at the height of
5900 km, hence, it oscillates with the period of
35 s at both heights.
Figure 5 shows the power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in
the spicule IV at the heights of 5200 km (lower panel) and 5900 km
(upper panel). Clear oscillation periods in this spicule at both
heights are
110 and
40 s. There is evidence of
oscillations with 30 s, but just below of the 95.5
confidence level.
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Figure 5:
Power spectra of Doppler velocity oscillations in the
spicule IV at the heights of 5200 km ( lower panel) and 5900 km
( upper panel). The dotted lines show 95.5 |
| Open with DEXTER | |
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Figure 6:
Histogram of all oscillation periods that are above
95.5 |
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Now we present the results of DFT for all 32 time series; i.e. at 8 different heights in 4 different spicules. Figure 6 shows a histogram of all the oscillation periods above the 95.5
confidence level. The histogram reveals interesting properties of
the oscillatory periods in spicules. Almost half of the oscillatory
periods are located in the range of 18-55 s, which was suggested by
Kukhianidze et al. in Paper I. Another interesting range of
oscillatory periods is 75-110 s, with a clear peak at the period of
90 s. Note the interesting peak at the 178 s period as well, which
is clear evidence of well-known 3 min oscillations.
To show the spatial locations of oscillations, we plot a Fourier
power (expressed in confidence levels) as a function of frequency
and heights for spicules II (Fig. 7, upper panel) and IV (lower
panel). There is clear evidence of persisting oscillations along the
full length of both spicules. The plot of the spicule II shows the
long white feature (feature A) located just above the frequency 0.01 s-1. This is the oscillation with the period of
80 s
found at third and fourth heights (see Sect. 3.2). The oscillation
persists along the spicule and is a signature of either a standing
or a propagating wave pattern. The most pronounced feature (feature B) in the plot of the spicule IV is a long light trend located just
above the frequency of 0.02 s-1 and persisting along almost the
whole spicule. This is the oscillation with a period of 44 s (the
same period was found at third and fourth heights; see Sect. 3.4).
Thus there is the wave pattern with a
40-45 s period in the
spicule IV. However, it must be mentioned again that only the
oscillations at third and fourth heights have a high confidence due
to the good fit of line profile to a Gaussian.
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Figure 7:
Fourier power expressed in confidence levels as a function
of frequency and heights for the spicules II ( upper panel) and IV
( lower panel). Light points correspond to higher power, and dark
points correspond to lower one. The label 1 on the power scale
(right plots) corresponds to the 100 |
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Time series of H
spectra in solar limb spicules show clear
evidence of Doppler shift oscillations, which probably are caused by
oscillations in the line-of-sight velocity. Spicules have almost a
vertical direction at the solar limb, therefore the velocity is
probably transversal to spicule axes. However, longitudinal
oscillations also cannot be ruled out if spicule axes are tilted
away from the vertical. It is clear that the oscillations in Doppler
velocity can be caused by wave propagations in spicules.
Photospheric granulation is often suggested as a source of wave excitations in anchored thin magnetic tubes (Roberts 1979; Spruit 1981; Hollweg 1981; Hasan & Kalkofen 1999; Mishonov et al. 2007). The waves may propagate along the tubes towards the corona and carry the energy and momentum. The tubes may guide spicule material at the same time. Therefore the wave propagation in the chromosphere may be traced through spicule dynamics. Magnetic tubes may guide three different types of waves: kink, sausage, and torsional Alfvén waves. Some of these waves may cause the observed Doppler-shift oscillations. Torsional Alfvén waves in thin tubes may lead to periodic non-thermal broadenings of spectral lines, but not to Doppler-shift oscillations (Zaqarashvili 2003; Zaqarashvili & Murawski 2007). Sausage waves cause oscillations mainly in a line intensity due to density variations. However, the longitudinal velocity field of sausage waves may lead to the Doppler shift variations if tube axes are significantly tilted away from the vertical. But the main contributor to Doppler-shift oscillations at the solar limb probably are kink waves, which oscillate transversally to the tube axis. We argue that the back-and-forth transversal motions of vertical tube axis at the solar limb due to the propagation of kink waves is the most plausible source for observed Doppler-shift oscillations in spicules (Kukhianidze et al. 2005).
Photospheric granulations may excite waves in anchored magnetic
tubes with two different time scales. The first time scale can be
similar to the lifetimes of granular cells, which gives wave periods
of
5-10 min. The second time scale can be related to the
spatial scales of granular cells; i.e. waves are excited with wave
lengths corresponding to cell spatial dimensions (
200-1000 km). Then these waves may have periods of 20-100 s corresponding to
typical photospheric wave speed
10 km s-1. Both sound
and Alfvén speeds probably have similar values in the photosphere.
Figure 6 shows that more than 2/3 of oscillation periods are located
in the range of 20-100 s, which clearly indicates the granular
origin of the waves. It is seen that the periods are split into two
different ranges: 20-55 and 75-110 s.
The reason for this phenomenon is not clear. There are two potential
candidates for this splitting: either an unknown scaling of granular
cells or fast and slow modes in thin tubes. The first case implies
the scaling of granular cells into two different ranges of 200-500
and 800-1100 km, which is not known (but would be interesting to
look into this problem in the future). The second case implies the
propagation of fast and slow waves in spicules. There are two
different characteristic speeds of wave propagation in a magnetic
tube embedded in a field-free environment. These are kink and tube
speeds (Edwin & Roberts 1983)
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(1) |
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(2) |
Fast waves propagate with a phase speed close to the kink speed,
while slow waves propagate with the tube speed. The density is much
higher inside the spicule than outside, therefore the kink speed is
close to the Alfvén speed. If the Alfvén speed is three times
faster than the sound speed in spicules at observed heights
(4000-8000 km); i.e.
,
then
and the
fast waves propagate three times faster than the slow waves. If both
waves are excited with similar wave length, then the period of fast
waves must be three times shorter than that of slow waves. It is
intriguing that the ranges 20-55 and 75-110 s show a similar
relation. Then the oscillations with 20-55 s period can be caused by
the propagation of fast waves, while the oscillations with 75-110 s
can be due to the slow waves.
It is an interesting fact that the oscillations with 75-110 s have
significant power, even more than ones with shorter period. The
oscillations may be signatures of periodic vertical flows excited by
the resonant buffeting of granular cells (Roberts 1979). In this
interesting paper, Roberts suggested that the quasi-periodic
external buffeting of granules on magnetic tubes may lead to
periodic resonant vertical flows, just as squeezing of a hosepipe
drives a jet of water. He took
5 min for the period of the
external forcing corresponding to mean lifetime of granules.
Consequently, resonant periodic flows must propagate with the tube
speed and have the same
5 min period. However, there are
usually 3-4 granular cells in the neighbourhood of each photospheric
vertical tube, which causes quasi-periodic squeezing of the tube.
Then, the mean period of external forcing will be 3-4 times shorter
than mean lifetime of granules. Consequently, the resonant periodic
flows will have 80-100 s period, which surprisingly coincides with
the observed periods. This phenomenon needs more vigorous analysis,
as it may deal with spicule formation mechanism, but this is beyond
scope of this paper.
Another interesting result is the clear peak at the period of 178 s (Fig. 6), which probably indicates oscillations with a period of 3 min. Thus the 3-min oscillations may penetrate up to heights of 4000-8000 km. It is interesting to check whether 5-min oscillations are present at these heights. Unfortunately, a statistical search of this period in our data is restricted due to the lifetimes of spicules.
It is particularly important to understand whether the oscillations are due to propagating or standing wave patterns. There are only 7-8 spatial points (corresponding to each height) in our data, therefore it is not easy to infer the phase propagation. In Paper I, we presented an illustrative example of phase propagation, but it needs more vigorous treatment. The wave propagation can be revealed through the variation in Fourier phase with position (Molowny-Horas et al. 1997). Unfortunately, using the method in our data is complicated, as the oscillations have high confidence only at two heights (third and fourth ones). The oscillations at the other 6 heights are not very confident due to a poor fit of line profile to Gaussian. However, some rough estimations still can be made.
We calculated the relative Fourier phase between heights for the
most pronounced features (features A and B) of Fig. 7. Figure 8 shows
the relative Fourier phase as a function of heights for (a) feature A and (b) feature B. There is almost no phase difference between
oscillations at different heights for feature A, which probably
indicates a standing-wave like pattern with period of
80-90 s. On the contrary, there is the significant linear phase shift in the plot (b), which indicates a propagating pattern with period of
40-45 s, so the spicule II shows the standing-wave like
pattern (or wave propagation almost along line of sight, which seems
unlikely) and spicule IV shows the propagation pattern. The
propagation speed for feature B can be roughly estimated. The wave
length can be given as (Molowny-Horas et al. 1997)
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(3) |
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(4) |
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Figure 8:
Relative Fourier phase as a function of heights for
a) |
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Observed waves can be used to infer plasma parameters inside
spicules. The method called coronal seismology is widely used
in coronal loops (Nakariakov & Ofman 2001) and prominences
(Ballester 2006). In Paper I we reported periodical distributions of
H
Doppler velocity with height. The spatial distribution
was explained in terms of kink-wave propagation from the photosphere
towards the corona. The wave length was estimated as
3500 km. Then we may calculate wave phase speed with the help of the
observed oscillation period, which enables us to estimate a magnetic
field strength in spicules. Singh & Dwivedi (2007) recently
estimated a magnetic field in spicules as 10-26 G. They used the
observed wave length from Paper I and the oscillation period of 1 min from Nikolsky & Platova (1971).
Figure 6 shows that most expected periods are
35 s and 90 s.
Then the phase speed can be estimated either as
100 km s-1 or
40 km s-1. Both of them are higher than the
adiabatic sound speed for a temperature of
15 000 K at a
height of 6000 km (Beckers 1972), which gives
20 km s-1. Therefore we argue that observed spatial periodicity in
Doppler velocity with
3500 km (Paper I) is caused by the
propagation of kink waves with a period of 30-40 s. Then the kink
speed in spicules at the heights of 3800-8700 km from the
photosphere can be estimated as
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(5) |
Plasma density is much higher inside spicules than outside,
therefore the kink speed is close to the Alfvén speed. Expected
electron density in spicules at the height of 6000 km 8.9
1010 cm-3 (Beckers 1972) gives the plasma density of
10-13 g cm-3. Then, using the kink speed (5), we may estimate the magnetic field strength in
spicules at the height of 6000 km as
| (6) |
However, there are some critical points in interpretations of observational data.
Here we analysed the old H
spectra of the solar limb
spicules taken on the coronagraph of Abastumani Astrophysical
Observatory. The time series includes whole lifetimes of four
different spicules at 8 different heights covering 3800-8700 km
above the photosphere (totally 32 time series). After the DFT of the
time series, we conclude:
Acknowledgements
The work was supported by the Georgian National Science Foundation grant GNSF/ST06/4-098. A part of the work is supported by the ISSI International Programme "Waves in the Solar Corona''. We thank Prof. Kiladze for helpful comments and the referee for stimulating suggestions.