Kink Waves in Thin Stratified Magnetically Twisted Flux Tubes

Abstract

We investigate for the first time the propagation of transverse (kink) waves along a thin non-isothermal gravity-stratified (expanding) and twisted magnetic flux tube. For a linear magnetic twist, we applied the method of radial expansion to the wave variables. In a zeroth-order approximation, the incompressible transverse plasma motion does not distort the cross section of the tube. In the framework of this model, a wave equation governing the propagation of a kink wave along a twisted expanding magnetic tube is derived. It is found that a linear magnetic twist does not affect the propagation. However, the vertical gradient of temperature (pressure scale height) of a non-isothermal atmosphere introduces a spatially local cutoff frequency for kink waves. For a linear profile of the distribution of the scale height, the cutoff period was found to be approximately T  = 700 s in the region of the minimum temperature. In a special case of an isothermal atmosphere inside and outside the tube, there is no cutoff to the propagation of kink waves. It is shown that the magnetic twist increases the energy flux of kink waves for modes with m  = 1 and decreases it for modes with . This effect is stronger for lower-frequency waves. The estimated wave energy flux, supported by the thin twisted and expanding magnetic flux tubes, can compensate the energy losses in the solar corona.