Total reflection of a flare-driven quasi-periodic EUV wave train at a coronal hole boundary

TL;DR

This paper provides the first clear observational evidence of total reflection of a quasi-periodic EUV wave train at a coronal hole boundary, highlighting wave interactions with solar structures.

Contribution

It reports the first unambiguous observation of total reflection of EUV waves at a coronal hole boundary, including analysis of wave periods and reflection conditions.

Findings

Total reflection confirmed by incidence and critical angles

Wave period about 100 seconds, linked to flare pulsations

Reflection occurs at the boundary satisfying total reflection theory

Abstract

The reflection, refraction, and transmission of large-scale extreme ultraviolet (EUV) waves (collectively, secondary waves) have been observed during their interactions with coronal structures such as active regions (ARs) and coronal holes (CHs). However, the effect of the total reflection of EUV waves has not been reported in the literature. Here, we present the first unambiguous observational evidence of the total reflection of a quasi-periodic EUV wave train during its interaction with a polar CH. The event occurred in NOAA AR 12473, located close to the southeast limb of the solar disk, and was characterized by a jet-like CME. In this study, we focus in particular on the driving mechanism s of the quasi-periodic wave train and the total reflection effect at the CH boundary. We find that the periods of the incident and the reflected wave trains are both about 100 seconds. The excitation of the quasi-periodic wave train was possibly due to the intermittent energy release in the associated flare since its period is similar to that of the quasi-periodic pulsations in the associated flare. Our observational results showed that the reflection of the wave train at the boundary of the CH was a total reflection because the measured incidence and critical angles satisfy the theory of total reflection, i.e., the incidence angle is less than the critical angle.