Acoustic wave propagation in the solar sub-photosphere with localised magnetic field concentration: effect of magnetic tension

TL;DR

This study numerically investigates how localized magnetic fields in the solar sub-photosphere influence acoustic wave propagation, revealing magnetic perturbations, wave scattering, and mode conversions relevant to helioseismology.

Contribution

It provides a detailed numerical analysis of acoustic wave behavior in magnetized solar sub-photospheric regions with various magnetic configurations, highlighting magnetic effects on wave dynamics.

Findings

Magnetic fields perturb and scatter acoustic waves.

Weak magnetic fields mainly cause thermodynamic effects.

Strong magnetic fields induce slow magnetoacoustic modes.

Abstract

Aims. In this paper we analyse numerically the propagation and dispersion of acoustic waves in the solar-like sub-photosphere with localised non-uniform magnetic field concentrations, mimicking sunspots with various representative magnetic field configurations. Methods. Numerical simulations of wave propagation through the solar sub-photosphere with a localised magnetic field concentration are carried out using SAC, which solves the MHD equations for gravitationally stratified plasma. The initial equilibrium density and pressure stratifications are derived from a standard solar model. Acoustic waves are generated by a source located at the height approximately corresponding to the visible surface of the Sun. We analyse the response of vertical velocity to changes in the interior due to magnetic field at the level corresponding to the visible solar surface, by the means of local time-distance helioseismology. Results. The results of numerical simulations of acoustic wave propagation and dispersion in the solar sub-photosphere with localised magnetic field concentrations of various types are presented. Time-distance diagrams of the vertical velocity perturbation at the level corresponding to the visible solar surface show that the magnetic field perturbs and scatters acoustic waves and absorbs the acoustic power of the wave packet. For the weakly magnetised case the effect of magnetic field is mainly thermodynamic, since the magnetic field changes the temperature stratification. However, we observe the signature of slow magnetoacoustic mode, propagating downwards, for the strong magnetic field cases.