In-situ generation of transverse MHD waves from colliding flows in the solar corona

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that collisions between counter-streaming flows in the solar corona can generate transverse MHD waves, providing insights into wave origins and coronal heating mechanisms through combined observations and numerical simulations.

Contribution

The paper presents the first combined observational and numerical analysis showing how flow collisions produce transverse MHD waves in the solar corona.

Findings

Flow collisions generate transverse MHD waves with ~40 km/s amplitude.

Numerical models reproduce observed wave features and heating.

Asymmetry in collisions is crucial for kink mode generation.

Abstract

Transverse MHD waves permeate the solar atmosphere and are a candidate for coronal heating. However, the origin of these waves is still unclear. In this work, we analyse coordinated observations from \textit{Hinode}/SOT and \textit{IRIS} of a prominence/coronal rain loop-like structure at the limb of the Sun. Cool and dense downflows and upflows are observed along the structure. A collision between a downward and an upward flow with an estimated energy flux of $10^{7}-10^{8}$~erg~cm$^{-2}$~s$^{-1}$ is observed to generate oscillatory transverse perturbations of the strands with an estimated $\approx40~$km~s$^{-1}$ total amplitude, and a short-lived brightening event with the plasma temperature increasing to at least $10^{5}~$K. We interpret this response as sausage and kink transverse MHD waves based on 2D MHD simulations of plasma flow collision. The lengths, density and velocity differences between the colliding clumps and the strength of the magnetic field are major parameters defining the response to the collision. The presence of asymmetry between the clumps (angle of impact surface and/or offset of flowing axis) is crucial to generate a kink mode. Using the observed values we successfully reproduce the observed transverse perturbations and brightening, and show adiabatic heating to coronal temperatures. The numerical modelling indicates that the plasma $\beta$ in this loop-like structure is confined between $0.09$ and $0.36$. These results suggest that such collisions from counter-streaming flows can be a source of in-situ transverse MHD waves, and that for cool and dense prominence conditions such waves could have significant amplitudes.