Transmission and conversion of magnetoacoustic waves on the magnetic canopy in a quiet Sun region

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetoacoustic waves convert and transmit through the magnetic canopy in a quiet Sun region, explaining the formation of power halos and magnetic shadows via wave mode interactions.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence and a model-based analysis of wave mode conversion and transmission at the magnetic canopy, highlighting the role of attack angle and magnetic field inclination.

Findings

Power halos and magnetic shadows are explained by wave mode conversion.

Long-period slow waves reach the chromosphere along magnetic field lines.

Short-period fast waves reflect at the turning height, influencing observed power patterns.

Abstract

We present evidence for the conversion and transmission of wave modes on the magnetic flux tubes that constitute mottles and form the magnetic canopy in a quiet Sun region, highlighting the details and key parameters of the mechanism that produces power halos and magnetic shadows at the magnetic network observed in H{\alpha}. We use calculations of the magnetic field vector and the height of the magnetic canopy and simple assumptions to determine the turning height, i.e., the height at which the fast magneto-acoustic waves reflect. We compare the variation of acoustic power in the magnetic shadow and the power halo with the results of a two-dimensional model on mode conversion and transmission. The key parameter of the model is the attack angle, which is related to the inclination of the magnetic field vector at the canopy height. Our analysis takes also into account that 1) there are projection effects on the propagation of waves, 2) the magnetic canopy and the turning height are curved layers, 3) waves with periods longer than 3 min reach the chromosphere in the presence of inclined magnetic fields (ramp effect), 4) mottles are canopy structures, and 5) the wings of H{\alpha} contain mixed signal from low- and high-{\beta} plasma. The dependence of power on the attack angle follows the anticipated by the two-dimensional model very well. Long-period slow waves are channeled to the upper chromospheric layers following the magnetic field lines of mottles, while short-period fast waves penetrate the magnetic canopy and reflect at the turning height. Although both magnetoacoustic modes contribute to velocity signals, making the interpretation of observations a challenging task, we conclude that conversion and transmission of the acoustic waves into fast and slow magnetoacoustic waves are responsible for forming power halos and magnetic shadows in the quiet Sun region.