Contribution to the modeling of solar spicules

TL;DR

This paper presents a simulation model of solar spicules to understand their quasi-periodic motions and overlapping effects, highlighting the importance of resolution in interpreting observed oscillations.

Contribution

The study introduces a simulation approach with random spicule positions and properties to analyze their apparent oscillations and overlaps in solar observations.

Findings

Simulations show overlapping effects can mimic oscillations.

Higher spatial resolution reduces misinterpretation of spicule oscillations.

Results align with observations from TRACE, Hinode, and Sac-Peak Dunn's VTT.

Abstract

Solar limb and disc spicule quasi- periodic motions have been reported for a long time, strongly suggesting that they are oscillating. In order to clear up the origin and possibly explain some solar limb and disc spicule quasi-periodic recurrences produced by overlapping effects, we present a simulation model assuming quasi- random positions of spicules. We also allow a set number of spicules with different physical properties (such as: height, lifetime and tilt angle as shown by an individual spicule) occurring randomly. Results of simulations made with three different spatial resolutions of the corresponding frames and also for different number density of spicules, are analyzed. The wavelet time/frequency method is used to obtain the exact period of spicule visibility. Results are compared with observations of the chromosphere from i/ the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) filtergrams taken at 1600 angstrom, ii/ the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) of Hinode taken in the Ca II H-line and iii/ the Sac-Peak Dunn's VTT taken in H{\alpha} line. Our results suggest the need to be cautious when interpreting apparent oscillations seen in spicule image sequences when overlapping is present, i.e.; when the spatial resolution is not enough to resolve individual components of spicules.