Dynamics of Sunspot Shock Waves in the Chromosphere and Transition Region

TL;DR

This study investigates the behavior and properties of shock waves in a sunspot's chromosphere and transition region using IRIS spectroscopic data, revealing their dynamics, spectral signatures, and potential role in solar atmospheric processes.

Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of shock wave spectral profiles and their evolution, highlighting new insights into shock dynamics and dissipation in sunspot atmospheres.

Findings

Shock waves cause spectral line deformations and double-peaked profiles.

Largest shock lifetime observed in Mg II h line.

Correlation between shock blueshift and deceleration across lines.

Abstract

We study the dynamics of shock waves observed in the umbra of a sunspot using the spectroscopic observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrometer (IRIS). The presence of the shock significantly deforms the shape of the spectral lines of Mg II , C II , and Si IV . We found that C II 1335.66 {\AA} and Si IV 1393.75 {\AA} show double-peaked profiles that change to a single peak later on. However, the Mg II h 2803.53 {\AA} line first shows flat-top profiles that change into double-peaked followed by the single peak. To study the shock dynamics, we isolate the shock component from the spectra by fitting two Gaussians. We find that the lifetime of the shock is largest in Mg II h 2803.53 {\AA} line. Moreover, the plasma motion shows both acceleration and deceleration phase of the shock. Yet, in C II 1335.66 {\AA} and Si IV 1393.75 {\AA}, only deceleration phase is observed. We observe a strong correlation between the largest blueshift of the shock and deceleration for all three spectral lines. We find a positive (negative) correlation between intensities contributed due to the shocks in Mg II and C II (Si IV ). This is suggestive that the shocks are first amplified in C II , followed by a decline in the height range corresponding to Si IV . These results may indicate the dissipation of shocks above the formation height of C II , and the shocks may have important roles in the dynamics of the upper chromosphere and transition region above sunspots.