Numerical simulations of the emerging plasma blob into a solar coronal hole

TL;DR

This study uses 2D magnetohydrodynamic simulations to investigate how weak magnetic plasma blobs emerging into a solar coronal hole interact with ambient plasma, causing reconnection, heating, and outflows that influence the solar atmosphere.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed numerical analysis of plasma blob emergence into coronal holes, highlighting the role of magnetic reconnection and heating in solar atmospheric dynamics.

Findings

Magnetic reconnection deforms the emerging blob and releases energy.

Emerging blobs induce hot plasma outflows and increase chromospheric temperature.

Blob magnetic field strength influences the extent of chromospheric heating.

Abstract

We numerically simulate emergence of a magnetic plasma blob into a solar coronal hole. This blob may be associated with granulation and therefore it has a weak magnetic field. Two-dimensional simulations are performed using the MAGNUS code which solves magnetohydrodynamic equations, taking into account magnetic resistivity and thermal conduction. As a result of the interaction of the emerging blob with the ambient plasma, the magnetic lines experience reconnection with the blob getting flattened and deformed with time. Additionally, this process launches a vertical outflow of hot plasma and the chromosphere in its response increases its temperature. We perform parametric studies by varying the magnitude of the magnetic field of the blob and observing the net heating of the chromosphere. These studies are inspired by realistic simulations of granulation made with the use of two-fluid JOANNA code. In these simulations a number of magnetic blobs are detected in the convection zone and in the photosphere. From the numerical results, we conclude that as a result of granulation operating in a solar quiet region the emerging blob may trigger very complex dynamics in the upper regions of the solar atmosphere, and the associated outflows may be a source of heating of the chromosphere and possibly the solar corona.