On the Effect of Coronal Rain on Decayless Kink Oscillations of Coronal Loops

TL;DR

This study investigates how coronal rain influences decayless kink oscillations in coronal loops, revealing increased amplitude and period during rain, which impacts coronal seismology diagnostics.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of decayless oscillations affected by coronal rain, highlighting the combined effects of rain and footpoint drivers on oscillation properties.

Findings

Oscillation amplitude doubles during coronal rain.

Mean oscillation period increases by 1.3 times during rain.

Coronal rain significantly affects decayless oscillation properties.

Abstract

Decayless kink oscillations are ubiquitously observed in active region coronal loops with an almost constant amplitude for several cycles. Decayless kink oscillations of coronal loops triggered by coronal rain have been analysed, but the impact of coronal rain formation in an already oscillating loop is unclear. As kink oscillations can help diagnose the local plasma conditions, it is important to understand how these are affected by coronal rain phenomena. In this study, we present the analysis of an event of coronal rain that occurred on 25 April 2014 and was simultaneously observed by \textit{Slit-Jaw Imager} (SJI) onboard \textit{Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph} (IRIS) and \textit{Atmospheric Imaging Assembly} (AIA) onboard \textit{Solar Dynamic Observatory} (SDO). The oscillation properties of the coronal loop in AIA are investigated before and after the appearance of coronal rain in SJI. We find signatures of decayless oscillations before and after coronal rain at similar positions to those during coronal rain. The individual cases show a greater amplitude and period during coronal rain. The mean period is increased by 1.3 times during coronal rain, while the average amplitude is increased by 2 times during rain, in agreement with the expected density increase from coronal rain. The existence of the oscillations in the same loop at the time of no coronal rain indicates the presence of a footpoint driver. The properties of the observed oscillations during coronal rain can result from the combined contribution of coronal rain and a footpoint driver. The oscillation amplitude associated with coronal rain is approximated to be 0.14 Mm. The properties of decayless oscillations are considerably affected by coronal rain, and without prior knowledge of coronal rain in the loop, a significant discrepancy can arise from coronal seismology with respect to the true values.