Issue |
A&A
Volume 471, Number 1, August III 2007
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 295 - 299 | |
Section | The Sun | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20077668 | |
Published online | 06 June 2007 |
Large amplitude oscillatory motion along a solar filament*
1
Hvar Observatory, Faculty of Geodesy, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia e-mail: bvrsnak@geof.hr
2
Institute of Physics, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
3
Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
Received:
18
April
2007
Accepted:
22
May
2007
Context.Large amplitude oscillations of solar filaments is a phenomenon that has been known for more than half a century. Recently, a new mode of oscillations, characterized by periodical plasma motions along the filament axis, was discovered.
Aims.We analyze such an event, recorded on 23 January 2002 in Big Bear Solar Observatory Hα filtergrams, to infer the triggering mechanism and the nature of the restoring force.
Methods.Motion along the filament axis of a distinct buldge-like feature was traced, to quantify the kinematics of the oscillatory motion. The data were fitted by a damped sine function to estimate the basic parameters of the oscillations. To identify the triggering mechanism, morphological changes in the vicinity of the filament were analyzed.
Results.The observed oscillations of the plasma along the filament were characterized by
an initial displacement of 24 Mm, an initial velocity amplitude of 51 km s-1,
a period of 50 min, and a damping time of 115 min.
We interpret the trigger in terms of poloidal magnetic flux injection by magnetic reconnection at one of the
filament legs. The restoring force is caused by the magnetic pressure gradient along the
filament axis. The period of oscillations, derived from the linearized equation of motion
(harmonic oscillator) can be expressed as
, where
represents the Alfvén speed based on
the equilibrium poloidal field
.
Conclusions.Combination of our measurements with some previous observations of the same kind of oscillations shows good agreement with the proposed interpretation.
Key words: Sun: filaments / magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
© ESO, 2007
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