Peculiarities of the mode of oscillations in a floccule and its neighborhoods at different chromospheric levels

The behavior of oscillations in the quite solar chromosphere under a coronal hole at several heights has been investigated. The properties of oscillations in cell, network, and weak-floccule areas have been analyzed. A time series of spectrograms in three ionized calcium lines, the Ca II K and H resonance doublet lines and the infrared Ca II 849.8-nm triplet line, was used. The observations were carried out at the horizontal solar telescope of the Sayan Observatory. The goal of this study was to compare the distributions of spectral power in various frequency ranges and their variations for selected spatial areas at different heights of the chromosphere. Particular attention was paid to the weak floccule due to a noticeable difference in the central intensity distribution between the K and H lines and the 849.8-nm line. A spectral Fourier analysis was used. The central intensities of the observed spectral lines, the K-index, and the equivalent width (the latter for the 849.8-nm line) were chosen as oscillation parameters. The studies have shown that the main intensity oscillation power at both atmospheric levels is concentrated at frequencies below 9 mHz. In the distribution of intensity oscillation power at different chromospheric levels, there are differences clearly distinguishable in the floccule. Powerful five-minute oscillations whose main peak frequency decreases with height, while the amplitude increases have been detected in the central part of the floccule. This result confirms the assumptions recently pointed out in the literature that vertical magnetic field concentrations can serve as a channel for the passage of low-frequency oscillations from the photosphere to the chromosphere in faculae. The intensity oscillation power in the frequency ranges under consideration has turned out to decrease with height, on average, for the entire observed spatial area. This may be related to the loss of part of the wave energy through the reflection, dissipation, and transformation of wave modes in the magnetic canopy layer. An area with a low brightness but powerful oscillations at about 3.3 mHz covering a considerable range of heights probably pertaining to “magnetic flashers” has been isolated in the telescope’s field of view.     

Center-to-limb variation of low-frequency Ca II line brightness oscillations in the solar chromosphere

The goal of this paper is a detailed statistical analysis of the low-frequency Ca II line intensity oscillations containing information about the dynamics of the lower and middle chromosphere. A pixel-by-pixel analysis of the observed parameters has been performed. The following results have been obtained. (1) The low-frequency chromospheric oscillations (periods >400 s) are seen much more frequently in networks than in chromospheric network cells. (2) The relative fraction of the low-frequency chromospheric intensity oscillations increases with height. (3) The occurrence distribution of intensity oscillations as a function of the frequency is subdivided at least into two types. (4) In contrast to the low-frequency photospheric oscillations, the phase differences between the Ca II K and 849.8 nm line intensity oscillations do not give grounds to identify the low-frequency chromospheric oscillations with internal gravity waves. (5) The spectral composition of the oscillations in the network chromosphere resembles that expected in magnetic flux tubes in the nonlinear regime of conversion of transverse MHD waves at lower levels of the atmosphere into longitudinal MHD waves in its upper layer.     

Oscillations in the lower solar atmosphere at the base of coronal holes

The oscillatory processes in the relatively quiet solar atmosphere, at the base of an extensive coronal hole, have been investigated. The properties of the oscillations in a number of parameters related mainly to the Ca II line intensity have been analyzed in areas belonging to various chromospheric network structures (cells, networks, flocculi, etc.). The goal of this study was to reveal peculiarities of the oscillatory process in the spatial areas located (in projection) at the center of a coronal hole, near its boundary, and at a bright coronal point at various heights of the solar atmosphere (from the photosphere to the middle chromosphere). In most structural elements, the low- and high-frequency components of the spectrum have been found to increase and decrease, respectively, with height. The oscillatory power of the low-frequency oscillations is at a maximum in the areas bordering the bright magnetic network elements. The power of the three-minute, five-minute, and low-frequency oscillations decreases at the centers of the bright chromospheric network. The phase relations point to the propagation of waves mainly at the boundaries of the bright chromospheric network and intermediate (in brightness) network elements. In two of the three investigated regions, the power of the five-minute oscillations (2.4–4.0 mHz) in cells is higher than that of the three-minute ones (5.2–6.8 mHz) at the investigated levels of the quiet solar atmosphere.     

Intensity oscillations at the feet of coronal holes

We investigate the regime of chromospheric oscillations at the bases of coronal holes and compare them with the oscillations in the quiet chromosphere outside coronal holes using time series of spectrograms taken at different times in eight quiet regions on the Sun. As the oscillation parameter being studied, we have chosen the central intensity of the chromospheric Ca II K and H and 849.8-nm lines. The intensity measurements at all spatial points (along the spectrograph slit) have been subjected to a standard Fourier analysis. For the identified areas of the networks, cells, and network boundaries, we have calculated the integrated oscillation powers in several frequency bands. For all frequency bands, the powers of the intensity oscillations at the formation level of the Ca II resonance doublet line cores have been found to be enhanced at the bases of coronal holes approximately by a factor of 1.5. For the “three-minute” band, this enhancement is more pronounced in the network than in the cell, while the opposite is true for the “five-minute” band. The power in the five-minute band is higher than that in the three-minute one both at the bases of coronal holes and outside them, but this ratio in the network for a coronal hole is higher (1.40 ± 0.25 and 1.30 ± 0.10). We interpret this fact and the fact that the power of the three-minute oscillations for nonmagnetic regions changes with height differently at the base of a coronal hole and outside it as an increase in the importance of magnetoacoustic portals at the chromospheric base of the coronal hole.     

Solar oscillations in strong and weak fraunhofer lines over a quiet region

We have analysed a 35-min-long time sequence of spectra in the Caii H line, Nai D1 and D2 lines, and in a large number of strong and weak Fei lines taken over a quiet region at the center of the solar disk. The time series of these spectra have been observed simultaneously in these lines under high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution at the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) of the Sacramento Peak Observatory. We have derived the line profiles and their central intensity values at the sites of the chromospheric bright points, which are visible in the H line for easy identification. We have done a power spectrum analysis for all the lines, using their central intensity values to determine the period of oscillations. It is shown that the 3 Fei lines, present 23 Å away from the core of the H line representing the pure photospheric lines, Nai D1 and D2 lines, 6 Fei lines at the wings of H line, and Can H line exhibit 5-min, 4.05-min, 3.96-min, and 3.2-min periodicity in their intensity oscillations, respectively. Since all these lines form at different heights in the solar atmosphere from low photosphere to middle chromosphere and show different periodicities in their intensity oscillations, these studies may give an idea about the spatial and temporal relation between the photospheric and chromospheric intensities. Therefore these studies will help to better understand the physical mechanisms of solar oscillations. It is clearly seen that the period of intensity oscillations decreases outward from the low photosphere to the middle chromosphere. Since we have studied a single feature at a time on the Sun (i.e., bright points seen in the H line) in all these spectral lines simultaneously, this may explain about the footpoints of the bright points, the origin of 3-min oscillations, and the relation to other oscillations pertaining to these locations on the Sun. We have concluded that 80% of the bright points are associated with dark elements in the true continuum, and they may seem to have a relationship with the dark intergranular lanes of the photosphere, after carefully examining the brightness (bright threads) extending from the core to the far wings of the H line at the locations of a large number of bright points, using their time sequence of spectra.NRC Resident Research Associate, on leave from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore 560034, India.     

Solar velocity fields: 5-min oscillations and supergranulation

One dimensional magnetograph scans have been used to study the 5-min photospheric velocity oscillations and the supergranulation. The oscillations in wing brightness lead the oscillations in velocity by less than 90° in the photosphere, and about 90° in the chromosphere, suggesting that they are traveling waves at lower levels and standing waves at higher levels. Downward flows have been observed to be coincident with the chromospheric network confirming the hypothesis that material is flowing downward at supergranular boundaries.     

The geometry of the chromosphere-corona transition region inferred from the center-to-limb variation of the radio emission

Based on the observations of the EUV spectroheliograms, the effective chromosphere-corona transition region is assumed to be restricted in a small volume element in the boundaries of the supergranular network. The center-to-limb variation of the quiet Sun at cm and dm wavelengths is analyzed to determine where the transition region is located in the network boundaries. Expressions are derived for the theoretical center-to-limb variation of the hypothetical brightness temperature only from the transition region, taking into account the orientation of the spicules. Comparison with the observations shows that the spicule-sheath model (Brueckner and Nicolas, 1973) and the hot plagette model (Foukal, 1974) are not compatible with the observations, because the limb brightening predicted by these models is too great. A new picture is therefore proposed that thin platelet transition regions are placed on top of the chromosphere and scattered between the network boundaries (the platelet transition-region model). This model is in accord with the observed center-to-limb variation of the radio emission.     

Modeling of the R CrB star chromosphere

A model of the R CrB star chromosphere is calculated on the basis of the observed profiles of the Ca II H and K lines and IR triplet and D lines of Na I and H-alpha. The calculated profiles of Ca II H and K lines and IR triplet and H-alpha are in good agreement with the observed ones both for an undisturbed state and for the light minimum. The line profiles for the light minimum are calculated under the assumption that the minimum is attributed to obscuring of the star disc with a dust cloud. In this case, the chromosphere is not hydrostatic since the column density at the chromosphere base is two orders of magnitude higher as compared to that in a hydrostatic model. The model proposed is more extended, less dense at the chromosphere base, and denser in the upper chromosphere. The extension of the calculated chromosphere is about 3 star radii. The density in the chromosphere is 108–1010 atoms per 1 cm³ and the temperature is 5000–7000 K. Agreement of the calculated and observed profiles of Na I D absorption lines is possible if we assume that, around the star, there is a cold envelope containing Na I atoms which expands with a velocity of about 30 km/s. This envelope is beyond the chromosphere, but near enough for the star and the envelope to be observed as a single whole. The optical thickness of the envelope in the Na I D2 line is 1.8. At the brightness minimum, this envelope illuminated with the star light yields additional emission attributed to resonant scattering in the Na I D lines.     

The Mn <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">I</Emphasis> 539.47 nm Line Variation in Solar Active Regions

It is a well-established fact that the Mn I 539.47 nm line exhibits significant cycle dependence similar to lines arising in the chromosphere which are affected by non-thermal heating in the chromospheric plages. Among these lines the case of the Mn I 539.47 nm line seems unique. It is of photospheric origin on the basis of theoretical calculations but its cyclic dependence hints at a chromospheric nature. The present work provides further evidence to both connections. The line exhibits asymmetry features and a center-to-limb variation as though influenced by the photospheric granulation. On the other hand an enhancement of the central intensity has been detected in a well identifiable Ca plage area. The line seems to be a promising candidate as an irradiance variation indicator.     

Acoustic power mapping for active regions from MDI, HLH, and TON data

Based on the HLH and TON ground-based helioseismological projects and the SOHO/MDI spaceborne project, we obtained acoustic power maps of active regions averaged over 1 mHz intervals. These maps allowed the spatial and frequency distributions of acoustic power in an active region and its surroundings to be studied. The time step of the HLH data is 42 s, which makes it possible to investigate the acoustic power up to 11.9 mHz. Data in the Ca II K and Ni I lines, which originate in the middle chromosphere and the photosphere, respectively, give an idea of the height distribution of acoustic oscillation energy in the solar atmosphere. The acoustic halo produced by excess acoustic power around sunspots clearly shows up on acoustic maps in the Ca II K line and, to a lesser degree, in the Doppler Ni I line shifts. Ground-based observations also reveal a large enhancement of acoustic power inside sunspots. Our tests show that this effect results from the combination of a high intensity gradient in the data and atmospheric seeing. The latter was reduced by referencing each image to the sunspot. The spatial distribution of power inside the sunspot due to atmospheric seeing was found to depend on the exposure time of the data used. Excluding the nonsolar effects, a common property of all acoustic maps is the suppression of the solar-oscillation acoustic power in active regions.     

The study of velocity oscillations in the solar photosphere using the velocity substraction technique

A method of measurement of local line-of-sight velocities in the solar atmosphere by means of polarization optics is described. No spurious signals due to instrumental displacements of the spectrum arise with this method. The sensitivity of the method obtained is 0.3 m s^-1, with a time constant τ = 5 s and input aperture 1.4″ × 4.5″. Some preliminary results of the assessment of spatial characteristics of 5-min oscillations are included. Data are given to illustrate a center-to-limb variation of the spectrum of 5-min oscillations.     

Observations of longperiod mass velocity oscillations in the Sun's chromosphere

Observations made by the differential method in the H line have revealed longperiod (on a timescale of 40 to 80 min) line-of-sight velocity oscillations which increase in amplitude with distance from the centre to the solar limb and, as we believe, give rise to prominence oscillations. As a test, we present some results of simultaneous observations at the photospheric level where such periods are absent.Oscillatory processes in the solar chromosphere have been studied by many authors. Previous efforts in this vein led to the detection of shortperiod oscillations in both the mass velocities and radiation intensity (Deubner, 1981). The oscillation periods obtained do not, normally, exceed 10–20 min (Dubov, 1978). More recently, Merkulenko and Mishina (1985), using filter observations in the H line, found intensity fluctuations with periods not exceeding 78 min. However, the observing technique they used does not exclude the possibility that those fluctuations were due to the influence of the Earth's atmosphere. It is also interesting to note that in spectra obtained by Merkulenko and Mishina (1985), the amplitude of the 3 min oscillations is anomalously small and the 5 min period is altogether absent, while the majority of other papers treating the brightness oscillations in the chromosphere, do not report such periods in the first place. So far, we are not aware of any other evidence concerning the longperiod velocity oscillations in the chromosphere on a timescale of 40–80 min.Longperiod oscillations in prominences (filaments) in the range from 40 to 80 min, as found by Bashkirtsev et al. (1983) and Bashkirtsev and Mashnich (1984, 1985), indicate that such oscillations can exist in both the chromosphere and the corona (Hollweg et al., 1982).In this note we report on experimental evidence for the existence of longperiod oscillations of mass velocity in the solar chromosphere.     

The solar Lyman continuum and the structure of the solar chromosphere

Data on the spectrum and center-to-limb variation of the solar Lyman continuum have been analyzed. They show: (a) The brightness temperature of the Lyman continuum is about 6500 K, but the kinetic temperature, as deduced from the slope of the continuum, lies between 8000 and 9000 K. The difference between the kinetic temperature and the brightness temperature requires that the source function be smaller than the Planck function by a factor of several hundred. (b) The Lyman continuum exhibits slight limb darkening longward of 825 Å, and slight limb brightening shortward of 750 Å. The crossover point varies from equator to pole and with solar activity. (c) The slope d ln I()/d of the Lyman continuum decreases toward the limb, implying that the kinetic temperature increases outward in the region of Lyman continuum formation.Using radiative transfer calculations for a plane-parallel atmosphere in hydrostatic equilibrium, we have derived a homogeneous model of the upper chromosphere that reproduces the main features of the observations. It is characterized by a temperature of 8300 K and a pressure of about 0.15 dyne/cm² at _Lyc = 1, and it has an abrupt temperature rise at a height of 1500 km above the limb. More precise agreement with the observations will require a detailed treatment of the inhomogeneous nature of the upper chromosphere.     

Closed magnetic structures in the chromosphere and in the transition region

Using simultaneous observations of the same solar regions in the lines H and Civ 1548 Å, we have derived schematic models of closed magnetic lines from dynamical constraints. We conclude that the magnetic loops are closed at higher levels above facular than above non-facular regions. This result remains valid whatever are the assumed density models and even if we take into account the 3 min oscillations. The center-to-limb behaviour is well predicted by taking into account the relative opacity in chromosphere and transition region.     

THE RESONANT ABSORPTION OF 5-MIN OSCILLATIONS IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE

The model calculations of 5-min solar oscillations are performed with consideration for the presence of canopy magnetic field in the solar chromosphere. It is shown that the occurrence of Alfvén resonances for 5-min oscillations in the solar chromosphere leads on the one hand to some change of the 5-min oscillation frequencies (up to a few µHz), and on the other hand to the heating of the chromosphere. The acoustic energy flux incoming to the chromosphere is of order 1 × 10 5 erg cm-2 s-1.     

On the dynamics of the chromosphere above sunspots

The brightness oscillations of a sunspot umbra in the H and Ca⁺ K lines are studied. The observational results are explained in terms of the resonance theory of slow-mode magnetohydrodynamic waves in the sunspot chromosphere. The thickness of the chromosphere above a sunspot varies quasi-periodically from 420 km to 1000 km.     

Interpretation of oscillations in UV lines observed above sunspot umbrae

Our theory of a resonator for slow magneto-atmospheric waves in the chromosphere of a sunspot umbra has been used to check different models of the structure of the chromosphere and transition region. Oscillations of velocity and intensity in Civ, Siiv, and Oiv lines observed by Gurman et al. (1982) on the SMM spacecraft have been compared with the calculated oscillations. The observed spectrum of resonant peaks could well be explained by a gradient model of the umbral chromosphere. Different assumptions concerning the structure of the transition region do not influence the calculated resonance periods, but the amplitudes and phases of oscillations are modified. There is strong evidence for a concentration of the observed oscillations in cold fine structure elements of the transition region, even if the filling factor of such elements is very small (some few percent). Isothermal rather than adiabatic oscillations in the cold elements should be assumed in order to explain the observed fluctuations of line intensity; the relative amplitudes of pressure oscillations in the hot main component with a steep gradient of temperature are too small to explain the observed intensity fluctuations.     

The brightness of the helium D3 line in the undisturbed chromosphere from eclipse observations

Slitless spectra of the chromosphere, observed cinematographically at the total solar eclipse of 10 July 1972, were reduced. The surface brightness distribution of the helium D₃ line in the undisturbed chromosphere was obtained in agreement with results by other observers. The available eclipse data on the D₃ absolute brightness was analysed by means of theoretical curves of growth. Intensity data by some observers were found to be certainly too high. A trend was found that the D₃ absolute brightness in the quiet chromosphere decreases with the increasing solar activity (sunspot number). This perhaps indicates a variation of the spicule number over the solar surface during a sunspot cycle.     

A system for line profile studies at the 150-foot tower on Mount Wilson

We describe enhancements to the hardware and software for the 150-foot tower system on Mt. Wilson which make possible the acquisition of high precision line profile measurements. This system utilizes the 75-foot pit spectrograph with a photomultiplier detector system to scan line profiles repeatedly in order to study variations induced by the passage of waves vertically through the solar atmosphere. Oscillations of line profile parameters with an amplitude as low as 1.7 m s^–1 have been detected with this system using integrated sunlight. Phase relations between oscillations of different parts of the line profile are appropriate to upward energy transport. Consistent with the previous conclusion by Mein and Schmieder (1981), we find that the magnitude of the energy transport is compatible with the 5-min oscillations making an important contribution to the heating of the low chromosphere.The Mount Wilson Observatory is operated by the Mount Wilson Institute under agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington.     

Solar chromosphere in the D<Subscript>3</Subscript> helium line from spectra of the eclipse of March 29, 2006

We present the processing results of slitless chromospheric spectra in a D₃ helium line obtained during the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006. A “Cascade-Photometrics 650” CCD matrix photodetector with a rate of 16 frames/s was used for the observations. Altitude distribution of absolute brightness of the helium chromosphere has been mapped in a latitude interval 30 N-10 S on the western limb. A correlation between absolute brightness of the helium chromosphere and a solar cycle phase has been confirmed. It has been revealed that the altitude distribution of helium emission has one maximum at an altitude of approximately 2000 km. In the lower chromosphere, helium emission is undetectable. This confirms our assumption about absence of an additional maximum at 300 km in the D₃ line brightness distribution in the chromosphere during sunspot maximum periods. The results also prove that X-ray coronal radiation with λ < 6 nm is the source of helium excitation in the lower chromosphere.