Alfven Waves in the Solar Corona
University of Notre Dame · NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory · +3 more institutions
Abstract
Alfvén waves, transverse incompressible magnetic oscillations, have been proposed as a possible mechanism to heat the Sun's corona to millions of degrees by transporting convective energy from the photosphere into the diffuse corona. We report the detection of Alfvén waves in intensity, line-of-sight velocity, and linear polarization images of the solar corona taken using the FeXIII 1074.7-nanometer coronal emission line with the Coronal Multi-Channel Polarimeter (CoMP) instrument at the National Solar Observatory, New Mexico. Ubiquitous upward propagating waves were seen, with phase speeds of 1 to 4 megameters per second and trajectories consistent with the direction of the magnetic field inferred from the…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 22.77
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 29
Authors
7- STS. TomczykCorresponding
University of Notre Dame, NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Southwest Research Institute, National Solar Observatory, Framingham State University
- SWScott W. McIntosh
University of Notre Dame, NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Southwest Research Institute, National Solar Observatory, Framingham State University
- SLS. L. Keil
University of Notre Dame, NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Southwest Research Institute, National Solar Observatory, Framingham State University
- PGP. G. Judge
University of Notre Dame, NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Southwest Research Institute, National Solar Observatory, Framingham State University
- TAThomas A. Schad
University of Notre Dame, NSF NCAR High Altitude Observatory, Southwest Research Institute, National Solar Observatory, Framingham State University
Topics & keywords
- Physics
- Corona (planetary geology)
- Nanoflares
- Coronal hole
- Coronal radiative losses
- Coronal loop
- Photosphere
- Polarization (electrochemistry)
- Affordable and clean energy