Parametric excitation of acoustic oscillations in closed coronal magnetic loops

Abstract

Quasi-periodic modulations of the microwave emission from solar outbursts at 37 GHz are studied based on 17 events observed in 1989–2000 at the Metsahovi Observatory. Low-frequency modulations with periods of ∼5 min were found in approximately 90% of the observed microwave outbursts. The most likely origin of this modulation is modulation of the current flowing along a closed coronal magnetic loop due to the five-minute oscillations of the photospheric-convection velocity. In approximately 70% of the cases, oscillations with periods ∼10 min were observed simultaneously with the five-minute oscillations in the same events. In 30% of the cases, simultaneous modulation of the microwave emission by three low-frequency signals with periods of 3, 5, and 10 min was observed. One possible origin of these “double” and “triple” modulations is parametric excitation of acoustic oscillations with periods of 10 and 3 min in a closed coronal magnetic loop as a result of coupling with the five-minute photospheric oscillations. This can occur when the period of the natural acoustic oscillations of the closed magnetic loop is about 10 min (the resonance condition). Since the ten-minute oscillations are excited more easily than the three-minute oscillations at the parametric instability, the latter are observed less frequently. For the same reason, the observed linewidth of the ten-minute oscillations is considerably greater than that of the three-minute oscillations.