Excitation of kink waves due to small-scale magnetic reconnection in the chromosphere?

Abstract

The kink wave, which has often been observed in coronal loops, is considered as a possibly important energy source contributing to coronal heating. However, its generation has not yet been observed. Here, we report the first observation of kink-wave excitation caused by magnetic reconnection as inferred from Solar Optical Telescope measurements made in the CaII line. We observed transverse-displacement oscillations on a spicule which propagated upwardly along the spicule trace and originated from the cusp of an inverted Y-shaped structure, where apparently magnetic reconnection occurred. Such transverse oscillation of an individual spicule is interpreted by us to be the signature of a kink wave that was excited by magnetic reconnection. We present the height variations of the velocity amplitude, δ ν, and the phase speed, C k, of the kink wave, starting from its source region. The kink wave is found to steepen with height and to evolve into a nonlinear state with a large relative disturbance, yielding a (δν/C k) of 0.21 at 5.5 Mm. This nonlinear kink wave seems to be damped in velocity amplitude beyond 5.5 Mm, which may result from the conversion of transverse-fluctuation energy to longitudinal-motion energy required to sustain the spicule. We also estimate the energy flux density carried by the kink wave, and in spite of its attenuation in the transition region conclude it to be sufficient for heating the quiet corona. Our findings shed new light on future modeling of coronal heating and solar wind acceleration involving magnetic reconnection in the chromosphere. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.