Abstract
We study properties of intensity fluctuations in NOAA Active Region
11250 observed on 13 July 2011 starting at UT 13:32. Included are data
obtained in the EUV bands of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board
the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO/AIA) as well as nearly simultaneous
observations of the chromosphere made, at much higher spatial and
temporal resolution, with the Rapid Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere
(ROSA) and Hydrogen-Alpha Rapid Dynamics camera (HARDcam) systems at the
Dunn Solar Telescope. A complex structure seen in both the ROSA/HARDcam
and SDO data sets comprises a system of loops extending outward from
near the boundary of the leading sunspot umbra. It is visible in the
ROSA Ca II K and HARDcam Hα images, as well as the SDO 304
Å, 171 Å and 193 Å channels, and it thus couples the
chromosphere, transition region and corona. In the ground-based images
the loop structure is 4.1 Mm long. Some 17.5 Mm, can be traced in the
SDO/AIA data. The chromospheric emissions observed by ROSA and HARDcam
appear to occupy the inner, and apparently cooler and lower, quarter of
the loop. We compare the intensity fluctuations of two points within the
structure. From alignment with SDO/HMI images we identify a point "A"
near the loop structure, which sits directly above a bipolar magnetic
feature in the photosphere. Point "B" is characteristic of locations
within the loops that are visible in both the ROSA/HARDcam and the
SDO/AIA data. The intensity traces for point A are quiet during the
first part of the data string. At time ~ 19 min they suddenly begin a
series of impulsive brightenings. In the 171 Å and 193 Å
coronal lines the brightenings are localized impulses in time, but in
the transition region line at 304 Å they are more extended in
time. The intensity traces in the 304 Å line for point B shows a
quasi-periodic signal that changes properties at about 19 min. The
wavelet power spectra are characterized by two periodicities. A 6.7 min
period extends from the beginning of the series until about 25 minutes,
and another signal with period ~3 min starts at about 20 min. The 193
Å power spectrum has a characteristic period of 5 min, before the
20 min transition and a 2.5 min periodicity afterward. In the case of
HARDcam Hα data a localized 4 min periodicity can be found until
about 7 min, followed by a quiet regime. After ~20 min a 2.3 min
periodicity appears. Interestingly a coronal loop visible in the 94
Å line that is centrally located in the AR, running from the
leading umbra to the following polarity, at about time 20 min undergoes
a strong brightening beginning at the same moment all along 15 Mm of its
length. The fact that these different signals all experience a clear-cut
change at time about 20 min suggests an underlying organizing mechanism.
Given that point A has a direct connection to the photospheric magnetic
bipole, we conjecture that the whole extended structure is connected in
a complex manner to the underlying magnetic field. The periodicities in
these features may favor the wave nature rather than upflows and
interpretations will be discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 2197 |
Publication status | Published - 01 Dec 2012 |
Keywords
- [7500] SOLAR PHYSICS
- ASTROPHYSICS
- AND ASTRONOMY
- [7507] SOLAR PHYSICS
- AND ASTRONOMY / Chromosphere
- [7509] SOLAR PHYSICS
- AND ASTRONOMY / Corona