Magnetic Tornado Properties: A Substantial Contribution to the Solar Coronal Heating via Efficient Energy Transfer

TL;DR

This study uses 3D simulations to show magnetic tornadoes significantly enhance energy transfer from the photosphere to the corona, potentially accounting for up to half of the coronal heating energy.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed simulation-based analysis demonstrating how magnetic tornadoes generate and transfer energy efficiently into the solar corona.

Findings

Magnetic tornadoes increase Poynting flux into the corona by four times.

Magnetic tornadoes contribute approximately 50% of the Poynting flux in certain regions.

Formation of tornadoes is linked to magnetic flux merger events.

Abstract

In solving the solar coronal heating problem, it is crucial to comprehend the mechanisms by which energy is conveyed from the photosphere to the corona. Recently, magnetic tornadoes, characterized as coherent, rotating magnetic field structures extending from the photosphere to the corona, have drawn growing interest as a possible means of efficient energy transfer. Despite its acknowledged importance, the underlying physics of magnetic tornadoes remains still elusive. In this study, we conduct a three-dimensional radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulation that encompasses the upper convective layer and extends into the corona, with a view to investigating how magnetic tornadoes are generated and efficiently transfer energy into the corona. We find that a single event of magnetic flux concentration merger on the photosphere gives rise to the formation of a single magnetic tornado. The Poynting flux transferred into the corona is found to be four times greater in the presence of the magnetic tornado, as compared to its absence. This increase is attributed to a reduction in energy loss in the chromosphere, resulting from the weakened magnetic energy cascade. Based on an evaluation of the fraction of the merging events, our results suggest that magnetic tornadoes contribute approximately 50% of the Poynting flux into the corona in regions where the coronal magnetic field strength is 10 G. Potentially, the contribution could be even greater in areas with a stronger coronal magnetic field.