Propagating waves in polar coronal holes as seen by SUMER and EIS

TL;DR

This study detects long-period, propagating slow magneto-acoustic waves in polar coronal holes using SUMER and EIS spectrometers, suggesting their role in solar wind acceleration.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of propagating wave properties in polar coronal holes using combined SUMER and EIS observations.

Findings

Detected 10-30 min oscillations in coronal holes

Measured subsonic propagation velocities consistent with slow magneto-acoustic waves

Indicated potential role of waves in solar wind acceleration

Abstract

To study the dynamics of coronal holes and the role of waves in the acceleration of the solar wind, spectral observations were performed over polar coronal hole regions with the SUMER spectrometer on SoHO and the EIS spectrometer on Hinode. Using these observations, we aim to detect the presence of propagating waves in the corona and to study their properties. The observations analysed here consist of SUMER spectra of the Ne VIII 770 A line (T = 0.6 MK) and EIS slot images in the Fe XII 195 A line (T = 1.3 MK). Using the wavelet technique, we study line radiance oscillations at different heights from the limb in the polar coronal hole regions. We detect the presence of long period oscillations with periods of 10 to 30 min in polar coronal holes. The oscillations have an amplitude of a few percent in radiance and are not detectable in line-of-sight velocity. From the time distance maps we find evidence for propagating velocities from 75 km/s (Ne VIII) to 125 km/s (Fe XII). These velocities are subsonic and roughly in the same ratio as the respective sound speeds. We interpret the observed propagating oscillations in terms of slow magneto-acoustic waves. These waves can be important for the acceleration of the fast solar wind.