A highly dynamic small-scale jet in a polar coronal hole

Abstract

We present an observational study of the plasma dynamics at the base of a solar coronal jet, using high resolution extreme ultraviolet imaging data taken by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager on board Solar Orbiter, and by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board Solar Dynamics Observatory. We observed multiple plasma ejection events over a period of ∼1 h from a dome-like base that is ca. 4 Mm wide and is embedded in a polar coronal hole. Within the dome below the jet spire, multiple plasma blobs with sizes around 1−2 Mm propagate upwards to the dome apex with speeds of the order of the sound speed (ca. 120 km s−1). Upon reaching the apex, some of these blobs initiate flows with similar speeds towards the other footpoint of the dome. At the same time, high speed super-sonic outflows (∼230 km s−1) are detected along the jet spire. These outflows as well as the intensity near the dome apex appear to be repetitive. Furthermore, during its evolution, the jet undergoes many complex morphological changes, including transitions between the standard and blowout type eruption. These new observational results highlight the underlying complexity of the reconnection process that powers these jets and they also provide insights into the plasma response when subjected to rapid energy injection.