Acoustic response in the transition region to transverse oscillations in a solar coronal loop

Abstract

Context. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves play an important role in the dynamics and heating of the solar corona. Transverse (Alfvénic) oscillations of loops commonly occur in response to solar eruptions and are mostly studied in isolation. However, acoustic coupling has been shown to be readily observable in the form of propagating intensity variations at the loop footpoints. Aims. We extend the modelling of wave coupling between a transverse loop oscillation and slow magnetoacoustic waves in a structured loop to include a lower atmosphere. Methods. We achieve this with combined analytical modelling and fully non-linear MHD simulations. Results. Transverse loop oscillations result in the excitation of propagating slow waves from the top of the transition region and the lower boundary. The rate of excitation for the upward propagating waves at the lower boundary is smaller than for waves at the top of the transition region due to the reduced local sound speed. Additionally, slow waves are found to propagate downwards from the transition region, which reflect at the lower boundary and interfere with the upward propagating waves. Resonances are present in the normal mode analysis but these do not appear in the simulations. Due to the presence of the transition region, additional longitudinal harmonics lead to a narrower slow wave profile. The slow wave field is anti-symmetric in the direction of wave polarisation, which highlights the importance that the loop orientation has on the observability of these waves. The ponderomotive effect must be accounted for when interpreting intensity oscillations. Evidence is found for an additional short-period oscillation, which is likely a hybrid mode.