Spicules: velocity, acceleration and scatter plots

TL;DR

This paper investigates the velocity, acceleration, and scatter plot relationships of solar spicules, challenging the previously assumed linear correlation and proposing a non-linear relation based on equations of motion for constant acceleration.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the velocity-acceleration relationship in spicules is non-linear, contrary to prior claims of linearity, and analyzes implications for spicule formation mechanisms.

Findings

Velocity and acceleration follow non-linear relations consistent with equations of motion.

The observed linear correlation is explained as a consequence of parabolic height-time relationships.

Implications suggest revisiting models of spicule dynamics based on these findings.

Abstract

Spicules and other solar jets such as bright points and fibrils generally show a parabolic height-time relationship, which means that each spicule has a constant deceleration. However the deceleration is only constant for a particular spicule and varies widely from one spicule or jet to another. Nonetheless the careful observations of a number of researchers show that the distance - time relationship is parabolic to a high level of precision. The measurements for heights, maximum velocities, decelerations and flight times are normally presented as histograms or scatter plots, which allow some general trends to be observed. The published results show a clear correlation between the maximum velocity and the deceleration of spicules on scatter plots. This correlation has been claimed to show a linear relation between the acceleration and the maximum velocity of a jet. This linear relationship has been used to help model the mechanisms responsible for the jets. However it is proposed here that the relation between velocity and acceleration is given by the normal equations of motion for constant acceleration and consequently the relationship is non-linear. Other correlations are also examined and the implications for spicule mechanisms are considered.