Oscillating light wall above a sunspot light bridge

TL;DR

This study observes a bright, oscillating light wall above a sunspot light bridge, analyzing its properties and suggesting that its oscillations are driven by p-mode leakage and magnetic reconnection-related energy release.

Contribution

First detailed analysis of a light wall's oscillations and brightness variations, linking them to p-mode leakage and magnetic reconnection processes.

Findings

The light wall exhibits upward and downward oscillations with a mean height of 3.6 Mm.

Oscillation period is approximately 3.9 minutes, with a velocity of 15.4 km/s.

Brightness variations suggest energy release possibly due to magnetic reconnection.

Abstract

With the high tempo-spatial \emph{Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph} 1330 {\AA} images, we find that many bright structures are rooted in the light bridge of NOAA 12192, forming a \emph{light wall}. The light wall is brighter than the surrounding areas, and the wall top is much brighter than the wall body. The New Vacuum Solar Telescope H$\alpha$ and the \emph{Solar Dynamics Observatory} 171 {\AA} and 131 {\AA} images are also used to study the light wall properties. In 1330 {\AA}, 171 {\AA}, and 131 {\AA}, the top of the wall has a higher emission, while in the H$\alpha$ line, the wall top emission is very low. The wall body corresponds to bright areas in 1330 {\AA} and dark areas in the other lines. The top of the light wall moves upward and downward successively, performing oscillations in height. The deprojected mean height, amplitude, oscillation velocity, and the dominant period are determined to be 3.6 Mm, 0.9 Mm, 15.4 km s$^{-1}$, and 3.9 min, respectively. We interpret the oscillations of the light wall as the leakage of \emph{p}-modes from below the photosphere. The constant brightness enhancement of the wall top implies the existence of some kind of atmospheric heating, e.g., via the persistent small-scale reconnection or the magneto-acoustic waves. In another series of 1330 {\AA} images, we find that the wall top in the upward motion phase is significantly brighter than in the downward phase. This kind of oscillations may be powered by the energy released due to intermittent impulsive magnetic reconnection.