Chromospheric Alfvenic Waves Strong Enough to Power the Solar Wind
NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory · Lockheed Martin (United States) · +3 more institutions
Abstract
Alfvén waves have been invoked as a possible mechanism for the heating of the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, to millions of degrees and for the acceleration of the solar wind to hundreds of kilometers per second. However, Alfvén waves of sufficient strength have not been unambiguously observed in the solar atmosphere. We used images of high temporal and spatial resolution obtained with the Solar Optical Telescope onboard the Japanese Hinode satellite to reveal that the chromosphere, the region sandwiched between the solar surface and the corona, is permeated by Alfvén waves with strong amplitudes on the order of 10 to 25 kilometers per second and periods of 100 to 500 seconds. Estimates of the energy flux…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 26.68
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 27
Authors
14- BDBart De PontieuCorresponding
NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin (United States), Southwest Research Institute, University of Oslo, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
- SWScott W. McIntosh
NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin (United States), Southwest Research Institute, University of Oslo, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
- MCM. Carlsson
NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin (United States), Southwest Research Institute, University of Oslo, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
- VHV. H. Hansteen
NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin (United States), Southwest Research Institute, University of Oslo, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
- TDT. D. Tarbell
NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Lockheed Martin (United States), Southwest Research Institute, University of Oslo, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Topics & keywords
- Physics
- Chromosphere
- Corona (planetary geology)
- Nanoflares
- Atmosphere (unit)
- Solar wind
- Coronal mass ejection
- Astrophysics
- Affordable and clean energy