Sunspot Oscillations Research Articles

EUV jets, type III radio bursts and sunspot waves investigated using SDO/AIA observations

Images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) at 211A are used to identify the solar source of the type III radio bursts seen in WIND/WAVES dynamic spectra. We analyse a 2.5 hour period during which six strong bursts are seen. The radio bursts correlate very well with the EUV jets coming from the western side of a sunspot in AR11092. The EUV jet emission also correlates well with brightening at what looks like their footpoint at the edge of the umbra. For 10-15 min after strong EUV jets are ejected, the footpoint brightens at roughly 3 min intervals. In both the EUV images and the extracted light curves, it looks as though the brightening is related to the 3-min sunspot oscillations, although the correlation coefficient is rather low. The only open field near the jets is rooted in the sunspot. We conclude that active region EUV/X-ray jets and interplanetary electron streams originate on the edge of the sunspot umbra. They form along a current sheet between the sunspot open field and closed field connecting to underlying satellite flux. Sunspot running penumbral waves cause roughly 3-min jet footpoint brightening. The relationship between the waves and jets is less clear.

Period persistence of long period oscillations in sunspots

Long period oscillations in the microwave radiation intensity generated over the sunspot of NOAA AR 10330 are studied with the Nobeyama Radioheliograph as the sunspot passes over the solar disk, over the course of 9 days (06−15 April 2003). Periodogram, Fourier and global wavelet analyses reveal the presence of a significant oscillatory component in the range P ≈ 50−120 min over the course of the observations. The spectral amplitudes of five significant Fourier components in the range P = 50−150 min are also seen to be stable over the observations, when the data are not affected by changes in magnetic configuration in the region. The ground-based nature of the instrument naturally introduces long data gaps in such long duration observations and the presence of the gaps does not allow any conclusion as to the stability of the phases of the oscillations. As a model to explain the persistence of the dominant long periods, a simple oscillator with a nonlinear driving term is proposed. The spectral difference between distinct peaks within, e.g. the 3 min spectral band, is expected to be able to resonate with the long period one hour oscillations.

Long-period oscillations of the solar microwave emission

Modulations of the microwave emission of the Sun at 11.7 GHz have been studied using more than 40 events observed in 2001 at the Metsahovi Radio Observatory. In nearly all the observed events, low-frequency modulations with periods of 3–90 min were detected. As a rule, simultaneous modulation of the emission at several frequencies was observed. One possible origin of such modulations with periods 5–10 min is parametric resonance arising in coronal magnetic loops as a result of interactions with the 5-min photospheric oscillations, while the long-period modulations could be a manifestation of sunspot oscillations. Torsional (ϑ-mode) and radial (r-mode) oscillations have such periods. The frequency of occurrence of oscillations with the determined periods is considered, and a lower limit for the brightness temperature of the oscillations is estimated.

CHROMOSPHERIC RESONANCES ABOVE SUNSPOT UMBRAE

Three-minute oscillations are observed in the chromosphere above sunspot umbrae. One of the models used to explain these oscillations is that of a chromospheric acoustic resonator, where the cavity between the photosphere and transition region partially reflects slow magnetoacoustic waves to form resonances in the lower sunspot atmosphere. We present a phenomenological study that compares simulation results with observations. The ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations are used with a uniform vertical magnetic field and a temperature profile that models sunspot atmospheres above umbrae. The simulations are initialized with a single broadband pulse in the vertical velocity inside the convection zone underneath the photosphere. The frequencies in the spectrum of the broadband pulse that lie below the acoustic cutoff frequency are filtered out so that frequencies equal and above the acoustic cutoff frequency resonate inside the chromospheric cavity. The chromospheric cavity resonates with approximately three-minute oscillations and is a leaky resonator, so that these oscillations generate traveling waves that propagate upward into the corona. Thus, there is no requirement that a narrowband three-minute signal is present in the photosphere to explain the narrowband three-minute oscillations in the chromosphere and corona. The oscillations in the chromospheric cavity have larger relative amplitudes (normalized to the local sound speed) than those in the corona and reproduce the intensity fluctuations of observations. Different umbral temperature profiles lead to different peaks in the spectrum of the resonating chromospheric cavity, which can explain the frequency shift in sunspot oscillations over the solar cycle.

Long period oscillations in sunspots

Long period oscillations of the gyroresonant emission from sunspot atmospheres are studied. Time series data generated from the sequences of images obtained by the Nobeyama Radioheliograph operating at a frequency of 17 GHz for three sunspots have been analysed and are found to contain significant periods in the range of several tens of minutes. Wavelet analysis shows that these periods are persistent throughout the observation periods. The presence of the oscillations is confirmed by several methods (periodogram, wavelets, Fisher randomisation and empirical mode decomposition). Spatial analysis using the techniques of period, power, correlation and time lag mapping reveals regions of enhanced oscillatory power in the umbral regions. Also seen are two regions of coherent oscillation of about 25 pixels in size, that oscillate in anti-phase with each other. Possible interpretation of the observed periodicities is discussed, in terms of the shallow sunspot model and the leakage of the solar g-modes.

On the amplitude of the radio response of the active region magnetosphere to long-period natural oscillations of sunspots

The following has been indicated for the cyclotron emission of microwave sources based on a simple modeling of a unipolar sunspot magnetosphere by the magnetic monopole, submerged in subphotospheric layers, and a temperature, changing with altitude as hyperbolic tangent. At insignificant changes in the sunspot magnetic field strength, originating as a result of oscillations of a sunspot as an integrated structure, the oscillation amplitude (in percent) of brightness temperatures of the Stokes I and V parameters at a wavelength of 1.76 cm (NoRH) is an order of magnitude as large as the magnetic field strength amplitude. This amplitude is of the same order of magnitude as the field oscillation amplitude at a wavelength of 5.2 cm (SSRT).

The subphotospheric structure of a sunspot

Local helioseismology techniques yielding the temperature and flow-velocity distributions under a sunspot indicate an unambiguous sign for the horizontal gas-pressure difference between the spot and ambient medium at depths of 4 Mm and more. In the Parker sunspot model, the transverse equilibrium condition cannot be satisfied in these layers: a cluster of vertical, strongly compressed magnetic flux tubes in a plasma that is hotter than the ambient medium with flows that diverge sidewise cannot be in equilibrium. Equilibrium can be satisfied in the hot zone under the spot only if the magnetic flux tube expands sharply with depth, so that the mean magnetic-field strength decreases dramatically at depths exceeding 4 Mm. This corresponds to the “shallow” sunspot model that has been used to interpret long-period sunspot oscillations.

A comparison of parameters of 3-minute and 5-minute oscillations in sunspots from synchronous microwave and optical observations

AbstractThe observations of 3 and 5 minute oscillations in sunspots present information on propagation of MHD waves in the magnetic tubes of sunspots. We present a comparison of wavelet spectra of radio flux oscillations at λ = 1.76 cm and oscillations of longitudinal component of the velocity at the chromosphere in sunspot umbra and penumbra in AR 10661 (2004, Aug 18). The radio maps of the Sun obtained with the Nobeyama Radioheliograph were used. The spatial resolution of the radio data was about 10-15 arcsec, and 10 sec cadence was used. On the radio maps sunspot-associated sources were identified and time profiles of their maximum brightness temperatures for each radio source were calculated. Radio data consists of information of oscillations of plasma parameters (in the regions with magnetic field B = 2000 G) at the level of the chromosphere-corona transition region. The optical observations were carried out at Sayan observatory. These data included information on longitude component of the magnetic field at the photosphere (line Fe I 6569 Å) and longitudinal component of the velocity at the chromosphere (line Hα was used). Comparing the wavelet diagrams covering the same periods of observations at radio and optics showed that some wave trains of time profiles are very similar in both kinds of observations (similar oscillation frequencies and their drifts, variations of amplitudes), however, some significant differences were also registered. The best similarity in optical and radio oscillations was found when the active region (AR) was near the center of the solar disk. The phase shifts between the two kinds of observations reflecting the propagation of MHD waves were also analyzed.

Seismology of a Sunspot Atmosphere

Two competing theories of sunspot oscillations are discussed. It is pointed out that the normal mode (eigenoscillations) theory is in contradiction with a number of observations. The reasons for this are discussed. The revised filter theory of the three-minute sunspot oscillations is outlined. It is shown that the reason for the occurrence of the multipassband filter for the slow waves is the interference that appears from the multilayer structure of the sunspot atmosphere. In contrast with Zhugzhda and Locans (Sov. Astron. Lett. 7, 25 – 27, 1981) it is shown that along with the Fabry – Perot chromospheric passband the cutoff frequency passband and a number of the high-frequency passbands occur. The effect of the nonlinearity of the sunspot oscillations in the upper chromosphere and the transition region is taken into account. The spectra of the distinct empirical models of the sunspot atmosphere are explored. An example of the interpretation of the sunspot oscillations based on the revised filter theory is presented. Only the filter theory can explain the complicated behavior of the oscillations across the sunspot. The observations provide evidence of the nonuniformity of the sunspot atmosphere.

On the possibility of investigation of the magnetic field structure in subphotospheric layers of the Sun according to observations of sunspot torsional oscillations

A method of investigation of the magnetic field structure in subphotospheric layers of the Sun has been developed. The method is based on observations of the torisonal oscillations of single sunspots. Characteristics of the torsional oscillations have been obtained from observations of the longitudinal magnetic field and radial velocities of seven single sunspots in the photospheric line Fe I λ5253 A. The parameters of the torsional oscillations and magnetic tubes in the deep layers have been determined. The radius of the cross section of a magnetic flux tube forming a sunspot is greatest near the Sun’s surface and is approximately equal to the radius of a sunspot umbra. Down to the deeper layers, it decreases quite quickly. The longitudinal electric current appearing in the magnetic tube changes direction. The typical time of the current changes is determined by the period of the torsional oscillations. The intensity of the longitudinal magnetic field in the tube increases with depth. The Alfven wave velocity averaged over the length of a magnetic tube is tens or hundreds of times less than this velocity in a sunspot umbra. It decreases with an increase in the period of oscillations. A decrease in the Alfven wave velocity leads to an increase in the twisting angle of magnetic field lines.

Influence of Nonuniform Distribution of Acoustic Wavefield Strength on Time‐Distance Helioseismology Measurements

By analyzing numerically simulated solar oscillation data we study the influence of nonuniform distribution of acoustic wave amplitude, acoustic source strength, and perturbations of the sound speed on the shifts of acoustic travel times measured by the time-distance helioseismology method. It is found that for short distances, the contribution to the mean travel-time shift caused by nonuniform distribution of acoustic sources in sunspots may be comparable to (but smaller than) the contribution from the sound-speed perturbation in sunspots, and that it has the opposite sign to the sound-speed effect. This effect may cause some underestimation of the negative sound-speed perturbations in sunspots just below the surface, which was found in previous time-distance helioseismology inferences. This effect cannot be corrected by artificially increasing the amplitude of oscillations in sunspots. For large time-distance annuli, the nonuniform distribution of wavefields does not have significant effects on the mean travel times, and thus the sound-speed inversion results. The measured travel-time differences, which are used to determine the mass flows beneath sunspots, can also be systematically shifted by this effect, but only by an insignificant magnitude.

A method of directly measuring Doppler shifts and the Zeeman effect from digital optical spectrograms of the sun and the long-period oscillations of sunspots

This paper describes a method developed and used at the Main (Pulkovo) Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, for recording Doppler shifts, as well as the broadenings of spectral lines caused by their Zeeman splitting, from digital optical spectrograms of active regions of the sun. It is shown that, in fairly prolonged (more than 4h) continuous observations, long-period variations of the line-of-sight velocities and the magnetic field, with a characteristic period of about 80min, are detected in sunspots and in magnetic elements of the surrounding photosphere. These variations are interpreted as vertical or line-of-sight oscillations of the entire spot (or the magnetic element) as a whole, caused by perturbing action from the surrounding turbulent medium (the photosphere and the convective zone).

Observations of Sunspot Oscillations in G Band and Ca II H Line with Solar Optical Telescope on Hinode

Abstract Exploiting high-resolution observations made by the Solar Optical Telescope on board Hinode, we investigate the spatial distribution of the power spectral density of the oscillatory signal in and around the active region NOAA 10935. The G-band data show that in the umbra the oscillatory power is suppressed in all frequency ranges. On the other hand, in Ca II H intensity maps oscillations in the umbra, so-called umbral flashes, are clearly seen with the power peaking around 5.5 mHz. The Ca II H power distribution shows the enhanced elements with the spatial scale of the umbral flashes over most of the umbra, but there is a region with suppressed power at the center of the umbra. The origin and property of this node-like feature remain unexplained.

Initial Observations of Sunspot Oscillations Excited by Solar Flare

Observations of a large solar flare on 2006 December 13 using Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on board the Hinode spacecraft revealed high-frequency oscillations excited by the flare in the sunspot chromosphere. These oscillations are observed in the region of strong magnetic field of the sunspot umbra and may provide a new diagnostic tool for probing the structure of sunspots and understanding physical processes in solar flares.

Three-minute oscillations in sunspots: Seismology of sunspot atmospheres

We show that no eigenmodes of sunspot oscillations with periods of ∼ 3 min or shorter exist. A complex spectrum of the 3-min oscillations arises, because the sunspot atmosphere is a multiband filter for slow MHD waves. To ascertain why the filter transmission bands appear, we have investigated the propagation of waves through a sunspot atmosphere using both multilayered isothermal model atmospheres and various empirical model atmospheres. It turns out that there are several different mechanisms responsible for the appearance of transmission bands in the atmospheric filter for slow waves. The filter lowest-frequency transmission band arises from the effect of a Fabry-Perot interference filter at the resonance frequency of the temperature plateau. The frequency of this band is always lower than the cutoff frequency of the temperature minimum. The next (in frequency) transmission band appears at the cutoff frequency. The higher-frequency transmission bands result from the antireflection of the atmosphere, an effect well-known in optics and acoustics. The nonlinearity of the 3-min oscillations observed in the upper chromosphere and transition region has only an indirect effect on the properties of the filter, increasing its transmission in most bands due to a decrease in the amplitude of the wave reflected from the upper atmosphere caused by nonlinear wave absorption. Knowledge of the formation mechanisms for the 3-min oscillation spectrum has allowed us to suggest a technique for estimating the parameters of sunspot atmospheres from the 3-min oscillation spectrum, i.e., to lay the foundations for the seismology of sunspot atmospheres.

Effect of Suppressed Excitation on the Amplitude Distribution of 5 Minute Oscillations in Sunspots

Five minute oscillations on the Sun (acoustic and surface gravity waves) are excited by subsurface turbulent convection. However, in sunspots the excitation is suppressed because a strong magnetic field inhibits convection. We use three-dimensional simulations to investigate how the suppression of excitation sources affects the distribution of the oscillation power in sunspot regions. The amplitude of random acoustic sources was reduced in circular-shaped regions to simulate the suppression in sunspots. The simulation results show that the amplitude of the oscillations can be approximately 2-4 times lower in the sunspot regions in comparison to the quiet Sun, just because of the suppressed sources. Using SOHO MDI data we measured the amplitude ratio for the same frequency bands outside and inside sunspots and found that this ratio is approximately 3-4. Hence, the absence of excitation sources inside sunspots makes a significant contribution (about 50% or higher) to the observed amplitude ratio and must be taken into account in sunspot seismology.

Dual-line spectral and phase analysis of sunspot oscillations

Context. Sunspots exhibit a wide range of oscillatory phenomena within their umbrae and penumbrae. Aims. We investigate the behavior of intensity and Doppler velocity oscillations in the umbra and the penumbra to study sunspot oscillations and their associations. Methods. Simultaneous, high-cadence (8 s), two-dimensional, $\ion{Ca}{ii}$ 8542 A and ${\rm H\alpha}$ 6563 A observations are used. Doppler velocity and intensity variations are studied with a wavelet spectral, phase difference and coherence analysis, both at distinct positions and within the whole umbra and the penumbra. Results. The analysis reveals the presence of several umbral flashes (UFs) that seem to fill the whole umbra. The spectral analysis indicates oscillating elements of size 2.5″ to 5″ within the umbra with periods around the 3-min band and oscillation periods around the 5-min band within the penumbra. Two remarkable jumps of the oscillation period and the intensity-velocity phase difference are present at both umbra-penumbra and penumbra-superpenumbra boundaries reflecting a drastic change in physical and/or magnetic conditions. The intensity-velocity phase analysis shows a delay of the intensity response to the velocity variations in accordance with the physics of the observed sawtooth velocity behavior. Most of the UFs oscillate incoherently, while the calmest umbral area seems to be associated with velocity spreading from neighboring UFs. The derived incoherency among UFs in conjunction with the existence of coherently oscillating elements within the umbra suggests the presence of umbral areas with slightly different physical and/or magnetic field conditions. Conclusions. The presented analysis provides further important constraints for realistic models and theoretical interpretations describing sunspot oscillations.

Umbral Three-Minute Oscillations and Running Penumbral Waves

We present results of investigations into chromospheric velocity oscillations in sunspots, carried out at the Sayan Solar Observatory. It is shown that the “chevron” structures in the space-time diagrams demonstrate wavetrain properties. Such structures are indicators of a propagating wave process and they are typical of many sunspots. In the authors’ opinion, three-minute umbral oscillations are not the source of running penumbral waves (RPW). It is very likely that umbral oscillations and RPW initially propagate along different magnetic field lines. We explain the decrease in RPW propagation velocity and frequency in the outer penumbra, as compared with the inner, by the combined action of different frequency modes. To better reveal the properties of these modes, frequency filtering was used. Our measurements of the RPW (five-minute mode) wavelength and RPW propagation velocity in different sunspots vary from 12″ to 30″ and from 28 to 60 – 70 km s−1 correspondingly.

Observational characteristics and association of umbral oscillations and running penumbral waves

Context. Umbral flashes (UFs) and running penumbral (RP) waves are believed to be closely related oscillatory phenomena of sunspots. Aims. We investigate the association of UFs and RP waves to see whether the latter are a visual pattern created by a common source with UFs or a trans-sunspot wave driven by UFs. Methods. Simultaneous, two-dimensional, dual-line observations in $\ion{Ca}{ii}$ 8542 A and ${\rm H\alpha}$ 6563 A, obtained with the Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass (MSDP) spectrograph mounted on the German VTT at Teide Observatory on Tenerife, are used for this study. High-cadence 8 s Doppler velocity images, spectrograms, and spectral-analysis results are used to study the characteristics and the relationship of UFs and RP waves. Results. Several UFs were observed that seem to fill the whole umbra. Doppler velocity variations with time indicate a shock behaviour for UFs, as well as for umbral and RP waves and a smooth continuous propagation of the latter from the umbra through the umbra-penumbra boundary out to the edge of the penumbra. Furthermore, the spectral analysis shows a decreasing oscillatory frequency as we move from the umbra outwards and a jump at the umbra–penumbra boundary that could possibly reflect, apart from a change in physical conditions, a drastic change of the magnetic field inclination with respect to the vertical. Conclusions. The results do not permit us to convincingly support one scenario over the other (i.e. visual pattern vs. trans-sunspot wave) for RP waves; however, they do provide important constraints for future models of sunspot oscillations and RP waves.

The stability and eigen oscillations of sunspots

One of the observational facts about sunspots is that magnetic field strength of sunspots varies in narrow interval 20 min) eigen oscillations of sunspot, as a whole, are studied. These oscillations were measured by different methods, being observed as quasi periodical vertical displacements of the body of sunspot followed by variations of its radius and magnetic field strength.