Evidence of Wave Damping at Low Heights in a Polar Coronal Hole

TL;DR

This study provides evidence that Alfvén waves are damped at low heights in a polar coronal hole, with spectral line narrowing indicating significant wave energy dissipation that could heat the solar corona and drive the solar wind.

Contribution

It demonstrates that wave damping occurs at unexpectedly low heights in polar coronal holes, challenging previous assumptions and quantifying the energy dissipation involved.

Findings

Line widths decrease at low heights, indicating wave damping.

Dissipated wave energy could account for up to 70% of the heating needed.

Wave damping occurs at lower altitudes than previously thought.

Abstract

We have measured the widths of spectral lines from a polar coronal hole using the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer onboard Hinode. Polar coronal holes are regions of open magnetic field and the source of the fast solar wind. We find that the line widths decrease at relatively low heights. Previous observations have attributed such decreases to systematic effects, but we find that such effects are too small to explain our results. We conclude that the line narrowing is real. The non-thermal line widths are believed to be proportional to the amplitude of Alfven waves propagating along these open field lines. Our results suggest that Alfven waves are damped at unexpectedly low heights in a polar coronal hole. We derive an estimate on the upper limit for the energy dissipated between 1.1 and 1.3 solar radii and find that it is enough to account for up to 70% of that required to heat the polar coronal hole and accelerate the solar wind.