Mode coupling in solar spicule oscillations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how mode coupling causes damping of kink waves in solar spicules through 2.5D numerical simulations, revealing energy transfer mechanisms in inhomogeneous plasma environments.

Contribution

It demonstrates the process of mode coupling leading to kink wave damping in solar spicules using numerical simulations, highlighting the role of inhomogeneity.

Findings

Kink waves decay exponentially due to mode coupling.

Mode coupling transfers energy from kink to Alfvén waves.

Damping occurs in inhomogeneous layers of solar spicules.

Abstract

In a real medium which has oscillations, the perturbations can cause the energy transfer between different modes. The perturbation interpreted as an interaction between the modes is inferred as mode coupling. Mode coupling process in an inhomogeneous medium such as solar spicules may lead to the coupling of kink waves to local Alfven waves. This coupling occurs practically in any conditions when there is smooth variation in density in the radial direction. This process is seen as the decay of transverse kink waves in the medium. To study the damping of kink waves due to mode coupling, a 2.5-dimensional numerical simulation of the initial wave is considered in spicules. The initial perturbation is assumed to be in a plane perpendicular to the spicule axis. The considered kink wave is a standing wave which shows an exponential damping in the inhomogeneous layer after occurrence of the mode coupling.