Slow-mode standing waves observed by SUMER in hot coronal loops

Abstract

We report the first detection of postflare loop oscillations seen in both Doppler shift and intensity. The observations were recorded in an Fe xix line by the SUMER spectrometer on SOHO in the corona about 70 min after an M-class flare on the solar limb. The oscillation has a period of about 17 min in both the Doppler velocity and the intensity, but their decay times are different (i.e., 37 min for the velocity and 21 min for the intensity). The fact that the velocity and the intensity oscillations have exactly a 1/4-period phase difference points to the existence of slow-mode standing waves in the oscillating loop. This interpretation is also supported by two other pieces of evidence: (1) the wave period and (2) the amplitude relationship between the intensity and velocity are as expected for a slow-mode standing wave.