Broadening of the differential emission measure by multi-shelled and turbulent loops

¹ Centre for mathematical Plasma Asytrophysics, Mathematics Department, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200B, Bus 2400 Leuven 3001, Belgium
e-mail: tom.vandoorsselaere@kuleuven.be
² School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9SS, UK
³ National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8588, Japan

Received: 14 August 2018
Accepted: 2 October 2018

Abstract

Context. Broad differential emission measure (DEM) distributions in the corona are a sign of multi-thermal plasma along the line-of-sight. Traditionally, this is interpreted as evidence of multi-stranded loops. Recently, however, it has been shown that multi-stranded loops are unlikely to exist in the solar corona, because of their instability to transverse perturbations.

Aims. We aim to test if loop models subject to the transverse wave-induced Kelvin-Helmholtz (TWIKH) instability result in broad DEMs, potentially explaining the observations.

Methods. We took simulation snapshots and compute the numerical DEM. Moreover, we performed forward-modelling in the relevant AIA channels before reconstructing the DEM.

Results. We find that turbulent loop models broaden their initial DEM, because of the turbulent mixing. The width of the DEM is determined by the initial temperature contrast with the exterior.

Conclusions. We conclude that impulsively excited loop models have a rather narrow DEM, but that continuously driven models result in broad DEMs that are comparable to the observations.