Observational signatures of simulated reconnection events in the solar chromosphere and transition region

Abstract

We present the results of numerical simulations of wave-induced magnetic reconnection in a model of the solar atmosphere. In the magnetic field geometry we study in this paper, the waves, driven by a monochromatic piston and a driver taken from Hinode observations, induce periodic reconnection of the magnetic field, and this reconnection appears to help drive long-period chromospheric jets. By synthesizing spectra for a variety of wavelengths that are sensitive to a wide range of temperatures, we shed light on the often confusing relationship between the plethora of jet-like phenomena in the solar atmosphere, e.g., explosive events, spicules, and other phenomena thought to be caused by reconnection. Our simulations produce spicule-like jets with lengths and lifetimes that match observations, and the spectral signatures of several reconnection events are similar to observations of explosive events. We also find that in some cases, absorption from overlying neutral hydrogen can hide emission from matter at coronal temperatures. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.