Heating the Solar Atmosphere by the Self-Enhanced Thermal Waves Caused by the Dynamo Processes

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel mechanism where self-enhanced thermal waves generated by the solar photospheric dynamo can propagate and amplify, potentially explaining the heating of the solar chromosphere and transition region.

Contribution

It introduces a new model of thermal wave amplification driven by dynamo processes, linking wave dynamics to solar atmospheric heating.

Findings

Thermal waves can be self-sustained and amplified in the solar atmosphere.

The mechanism can increase plasma temperature by several times.

It may explain heating in the chromosphere and transition region.

Abstract

We discuss a possible mechanism for heating the solar atmosphere by the ensemble of thermal waves, generated by the photospheric dynamo and propagating upwards with increasing magnitudes. These waves are self-sustained and amplified due to the specific dependence of the efficiency of heat release by Ohmic dissipation on the ratio of the collisional to gyro- frequencies, which in its turn is determined by the temperature profile formed in the wave. In the case of sufficiently strong driving, such a mechanism can increase the plasma temperature by a few times, i.e. it may be responsible for heating the chromosphere and the base of the transition region.