Slow magnetosonic waves and fast flows in active region loops

TL;DR

This study uses 3D MHD modeling to investigate how impulsive flows generate slow magnetosonic waves and fast mode waves in active region loops, explaining observed phenomena in solar corona.

Contribution

It demonstrates that impulsive footpoint flows can simultaneously produce slow waves and fast mode waves, linking observed waves and flows to common impulsive origins in active regions.

Findings

Impulsive flows excite damped slow magnetosonic waves propagating along loops.

Increased pulse amplitude leads to shock-like wave trains.

Periodic upflows produce undamped oscillations with specific periods.

Abstract

Recent EUV spectroscopic observations indicate that slow magnetosonic waves are present in active region (AR) loops. Some of the spectral data were also interpreted as evidence of fast (~100-300 km/s) quasi-periodic flows. We have performed three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (3D MHD) modeling of a bipolar AR that contains impulsively generated waves and flows in coronal loops. The model AR is initiated with a dipole magnetic field and gravitationally stratified density, with an upflow driven steadily or periodically in localized regions at the footpoints of magnetic loops. The resulting flows along the magnetic field lines of the AR produce higher density loops compared to the surrounding plasma by injection of material into the flux-tubes and the establishment of siphon flow. We find that the impulsive onset of flows with subsonic speeds result in the excitation of damped slow magnetosonic waves that propagate along the loops and coupled nonlinearly driven fast mode waves. The phase speed of the slow magnetosonic waves is close to the coronal sound speed. When the amplitude of the driving pulses is increased we find that slow shock-like wave trains are produced. When the upflows are driven periodically, undamped oscillations are produced with periods determined by the periodicity of the upflows. Based on the results of the 3D MHD model we suggest that the observed slow magnetosonic waves and persistent upflows may be produced by the same impulsive events at the bases of ARs.