Acoustic Events in the Solar Atmosphere from Hinode/SOT NFI Observations

Abstract

We investigate the properties of acoustic events (AEs), defined as spatially concentrated and short duration energy flux, in the quiet Sun, using observations of a 2D field of view (FOV) with high spatial and temporal resolution provided by the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) onboard Hinode. Line profiles of Fe i 557.6 nm were recorded by the Narrow-band Filter Imager (NFI) on a 82″×82″ FOV during 75 min with a time step of 28.75 s and 0.08″ pixel size. Vertical velocities were computed at three atmospheric levels (80, 130, and 180 km) using the bisector technique, allowing the determination of energy flux to be made in the range 3 – 10 mHz using two complementary methods (Hilbert transform and Fourier power spectrum). Horizontal velocities were computed using local correlation tracking (LCT) of continuum intensities providing divergences. We found that the net energy flux is upward. In the range 3 – 10 mHz, a full FOV space and time averaged flux of 2700 W m−2 (lower layer 80 – 130 km) and 2000 W m−2 (upper layer 130 – 180 km) is concentrated in less than 1 % of the solar surface in the form of narrow (0.3″) AE. Their total duration (including rise and decay) is of the order of 103 s. Inside each AE, the mean flux is 1.6×105 W m−2 (lower layer) and 1.2×105 W m−2 (upper). Each event carries an average energy (flux integrated over space and time) of 2.5×1019 J (lower layer) to 1.9×1019 J (upper). More than 106 events could exist permanently on the Sun, with a birth and decay rate of 3500 s−1. Most events occur in intergranular lanes, downward velocity regions, and areas of converging motions.