Using Flare-Induced Modulation of Three- and Five-Minute Oscillations for Studying Wave Propagation in the Solar Atmosphere

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to diagnose solar atmospheric conditions by analyzing flare-induced oscillation amplitude increases, enabling better understanding of wave propagation with minimal environmental disturbance.

Contribution

The study demonstrates how small solar flares can be used to probe wave propagation in the solar atmosphere, reducing measurement uncertainties and increasing observational opportunities.

Findings

Oscillation amplitudes increase during small flares.

Enhanced oscillations propagate into the corona.

Small flares provide a less disturbed environment for study.

Abstract

We propose a method for diagnosing the physical conditions in the solar atmosphere using an increase in oscillation amplitudes resulting from minuscule solar flares. As an example, we consider a B2 flare, which caused a sharp short-lived increase in the amplitude of three- and five-minute oscillations in the lower layers of the solar atmosphere. Enhanced three- and five-minute oscillations propagated from the lower layers of the atmosphere into the corona. Such short oscillation trains made it possible to remove the uncertainties arising in the measurements of the phase and group lags between the layers. In addition, the amplification of the oscillations that reach the corona may add to the likelihood of a repeated flare. Studying oscillations in small flare events has the advantage of exploring the atmosphere in its quasi-quiet condition as opposed to powerful flares, which cause substantial and prolonged disturbance of the environment. In addition, small flares are much more common than powerful flares, which allows one to choose from a larger sample of observational material.