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Plumelets: Dynamic Filamentary Structures in Solar Coronal Plumes

Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Solar coronal plumes long seemed to possess a simple geometry supporting spatially coherent, stable outflow without significant fine structure. Recent high-resolution observations have challenged this picture by revealing numerous transient, small-scale, collimated outflows (“jetlets”) at the base of plumes. The dynamic filamentary structure of solar plumes above these outflows, and its relationship with the overall plume structure, have remained largely unexplored. We analyzed the statistics of continuously observed fine structure inside a single representative bright plume within a mid-latitude coronal hole during 2016 July 2–3. By applying advanced edge-enhancement and spatiotemporal analysis techniques to extended series of high-resolution images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory's Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, we determined that the plume was composed of numerous time-evolving filamentary substructures, referred to as “plumelets” in this paper, that accounted for most of the plume emission. The number of simultaneously identifiable plumelets was positively correlated with plume brightness, peaked in the fully formed plume, and remained saturated thereafter. The plumelets had transverse widths of 10 Mm and intermittently supported upwardly propagating periodic disturbances with phase speeds of 190–260 km s −1 and longitudinal wavelengths of 55–65 Mm. The characteristic frequency (≈ 3.3 mHz) is commensurate with that of solar p -modes. Oscillations in neighboring plumelets are uncorrelated, indicating that the waves could be driven by p -mode flows at spatial scales smaller than the plumelet separation. Multiple independent sources of outflow within a single coronal plume should impart significant fine structure to the solar wind that may be detectable by Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abd186
Authors: V. M. Uritsky, C. E. DeForest, J. T. Karpen, C. R. DeVore, P. Kumar, N. E. Raouafi, P. F. Wyper
Institutions: Goddard Space Flight Center, Catholic University of America, Southwest Research Institute, American University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Durham University
Language: English
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Award: THE SH SCIENCE CENTER WILL CARRY OUT OBSERVATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF NASA STRATEGIC SCIENCE MISSION OBJECTIVES TO:A.SOLAR-HELIOSPHERIC SCIENCE: THE SUN GEOSPACE OTHER PLANETARY SPACE PLASMA ENVIRONMENTS AND THE INTERACTIONS AND COUPLINGS AMONG THESE PHYSICAL REGIMES;B.THE INFORMATIONAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES RELATED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF DATA SYSTEMS AND MODELS REQUIRED TO INTERPRET DATA FROM HELIOPHYSICS SCIENCE MISSIONS; ANDC.THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY AND THEORETICAL TECHNIQUES REQUIRED TO MEET THESE SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES.THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAMMATIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE FORM OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN GSFC AND THE SOLAR-HELIOSPHERIC SCIENCE CENTER AS WELL AS JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES.THE PRIMARY GOAL UNDER THE RESULTING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO ESTABLISH A FOCUSED GSFC/RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP THAT:A.BRINGS TOGETHER THE SH SCIENCE CENTER AND GSFC SCIENTISTS TO IMPLEMENT THE NASA STRATEGIC GOALS IN HELIOPHYSICS SCIENCE;B.ENHANCES THE CAPABILITIES AND STRENGTHS OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS IN HELIOPHYSICS SCIENCE;C.PROVIDES ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING FLEXIBILITY TO ADAPT TO EVOLVING RESEARCH PROGRAM NEEDS;D.ATTRACTS SUPERIOR SCIENTISTS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT PROGRAMS WHICH WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE CAPABILITIES OF EITHER PARTNER WORKING ALONE;E.PROMOTES THE INVOLVEMENT OF MINORITY AND WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN SPACE SCIENCE RESEARCH; ANDF.FACILITATES ACCESS TO STUDENT TALENT AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN NASA PROGRAMS.THE SH SCIENCE CENTER WILL FOCUS PRIMARILY ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. IT IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PARTNER INSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS IN THE GODDARD HELIOPHYSICS SCIENCE DIVISION (HSD) AND WILL PROVIDE A VEHICLE TO INCREASE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE EXTERNAL SCIENCE COMMUNITY IN THE PURSUIT OF NASA GOALS. THE SH SCIENCE CENTER WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH COLLABORATIVELY WITH ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS WITHIN THE GODDARD HSD (CODE 670). RESEARCH MAY INVOLVE ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM OPERATING AND PAST MISSIONS AND MODELING AND DESIGN OF MISSIONS PLANNED OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT. FUTURE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES WILL EVOLVE AS A FUNCTION OF PRIORITIES BUDGETS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS OF PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS.
OpenAlex ID: W3113083442
FWCI: 4.041
Cites: 34
Cited by: 44
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