Stability and wave dynamics in polytropic Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravitating solar plasmas

TL;DR

This study explores how nonlinear EiBI gravity corrections influence wave dynamics, stability, and energy transport in solar plasmas, revealing significant effects on oscillation frequencies, energy partitioning, and providing empirical constraints through helioseismology.

Contribution

It introduces the first empirical constraint on the solar EiBI gravity parameter using helioseismic data and analyzes its impact on wave behavior and energy transport in solar plasmas.

Findings

Positive EiBI parameter increases oscillation frequencies and energy flux by ~10%.

Negative EiBI parameter enhances damping and gravitational binding effects.

Theoretical predictions align with four years of helioseismic observations for specific EiBI parameter values.

Abstract

We investigate the influence of nonlinear gravity corrections, arising from the Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld (EiBI) theory on wave dynamics, stability, and energy transport processes in polytropic, viscous, and turbulent solar plasmas. Analytical and numerical analyses of the Jeans-normalized quadratic dispersion relation demonstrate that both the EiBI gravity parameter $(\chi)$ and the relative polytropic sound speed $(\beta)$ independently regulate oscillation frequencies, growth rates, phase velocities, perturbation energy partitioning, and outward acoustic energy flux. Positive $\chi$ systematically elevates oscillation frequencies, phase velocities, and outward energy flux level by $\sim$10% relative to the Newtonian predictions, while larger $\beta$ enhances them by up to 55%, thereby promoting wave propagation and efficient acoustic transport. Conversely, negative $\chi$ strengthens gravitational binding and increases damping rates by $\sim$40%, particularly for the \textit{g}-modes. Energy partitioning analyses reveal that the EiBI corrections fundamentally restructure the kinetic-electrostatic-gravitational energy balance. While the Newtonian gravity contributes negligibly ($<$4%), nonzero $\chi$ channels up to one-third of oscillation energy into gravitational modes. The modal surface flux calculations further confirm that only the \textit{p}-modes drive outward energy transport (amplification for $\chi>0$, suppression for $\chi<0$). A direct comparative analysis with four years of SDO/HMI Doppler velocity observations demonstrate a robust theoretical agreement for $\chi=3\times10^7$ m$^5$kg$^{-1}$s$^{-2}$, providing the first empirical constraint on the solar EiBI gravity through helioseismology. The findings offer a rigorous framework for advancing our understanding about solar plasma stability, helioseismic signatures, and ambient atmospheric energy transport processes.