Fine-Scale Features of the Sun's Atmosphere: Spicules and Jets

TL;DR

This paper reviews fine-scale features like spicules and jets in the Sun's atmosphere, exploring their observations, theories, and potential continuum of magnetic phenomena from small jets to large eruptions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of observational and theoretical developments concerning solar spicules and jets, proposing a unified perspective on their magnetic origins.

Findings

Spicules and jets are connected phenomena with similar magnetic driving mechanisms.

There may be a continuum of jet-like features from small spicules to large CMEs.

Future studies are needed to clarify the relationships among these solar features.

Abstract

We present an overview of fine-scale features in the Sun's atmosphere, with a focus on spicules and jets. We consider older and newer observations and theories for chromospheric spicules and coronal jets. We also consider the connection between these features and some other solar atmospheric phenomena. We then discuss the possibility that there is a continuum of jet-like features ranging from spicules to large-scale CME-producing eruptions, all driven by similar magnetic processes operating on differing corresponding size scales. Future observational and theoretical studies will help clarify further the nature of these solar events, and elucidate possible connections between them.