Flows and Waves in Braided Solar Coronal Magnetic Structures

TL;DR

This study analyzes high-frequency plasma flows and waves in braided magnetic structures of the solar corona, revealing short-period oscillations and flows likely driven by magnetic reconnection, using high-resolution imaging data.

Contribution

It provides new observational evidence of rapid plasma dynamics and oscillations in braided coronal magnetic structures, highlighting the role of reconnection.

Findings

Detection of quasi-periodic flows with velocities 13-185 km/s.

Identification of short-period transverse oscillations in braided regions.

Association of small-scale, high-frequency dynamics with reconnection processes.

Abstract

We study the high frequency dynamics in the braided magnetic structure of an active region (AR 11520) moss as observed by High-Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C). We detect quasi periodic flows and waves in these structures. We search for high frequency dynamics while looking at power maps of the observed region. We find that shorter periodicites (30 - 60 s) are associated with small spatial scales which can be resolved by Hi-C only. We detect quasi periodic flows with wide range of velocities from 13 - 185 km/s associated with braided regions. This can be interpreted as plasma outflows from reconnection sites. We also find presence of short period and large amplitude transverse oscillations associated with braided magnetic region. Such oscillations could be triggered by reconnection or such oscillation may trigger reconnection.