Simulations and Observational Signatures of Mass Ejections, Alfven Waves and Shocks Driven by Turbulent Magnetized Vortex Tubes
Abstract
The mass and energy supply from the Sun into the solar wind is driven by turbulent convection in the near-surface layers. Therefore, the dynamics of subsurface turbulent processes and their connections to the atmosphere are a key to understanding the energy transport, heating of the atmosphere, corona and wind, and mass eruptions. I present new results of radiative 3D MHD simulations that reveal a fundamental role of small-scale magnetized vortex tubes generated near the solar surface by turbulent convection and penetrating into the higher atmospheric layers, potentially providing the mass and energy for the solar wind in open magnetic field structures.The advanced, realistic type, numerical simulations included most important effects, such as sub-grid scale turbulence, magnetic field, radiation, ionization and excitation of all abundant spices, realistic EOS and initial solar model. The MHD simulations revealed formation of ubiquitous small-scale vortex tubes mostly concentrated in the intergranular lanes, which capture and twist magnetic field lines and penetrate into the high atmospheric layers. This process leads to spontaneous generation of shock and Alfven waves, and is accompanied by small-scale mass ejections. I discuss spectro-polarimetric diagnostics of the vortex tubes and eruptions, and their signatures in recent high-resolution observations.
- Publication:
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Solar Heliospheric and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE 2012)
- Pub Date:
- June 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012shin.confE.105K