| Presentation Title: | Insights into the nature and dynamics of solar spicules |
| Author(s): | Piyali Chatterjee, Sahel Dey, Robert Erdelyi |
Abstract:
Bunches of swaying plasma jets in the solar chromosphere - the spicules- exhibit a variety of complex dynamics that are clearly observed in the images of the solar limb in both Hinode/SOT/Ca II and also IRIS/Si IV data. Apart from the rotation, sometimes a spicule is seen splitting into multiple strands, and the reverse where several strands coalesce into a single spicule is also detected. We present a simultaneous explanation for both of the above observed phenomena, namely the spinning and the splitting of spicule strands with the help of a radiative MHD simulation of the solar atmosphere. Our 3D numerical simulations further indicate an interesting relationship
between spicules and vortex tubes that we refer to as "coronal swirling conduits" or CoSCos. In contrast to spicules that fall back to the solar chromosphere, the CoSCos form by drawing energy from the thermal and magnetic energy reservoir of the chromospheric plasma. These CoSCos have the potential to carry the rotational energy pulses further upward than spicules at Alfven speeds than the typical length of spicules seen in the Si IV emission lines even when spicules are falling Sun-ward.