Observational study of large amplitude longitudinal oscillations in a solar filament

Kalman Knizhnik, Manuel Luna, Karin Muglach, Holly Gilbert, Therese Kucera, Judith Karpen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

On 20 August 2010 an energetic disturbance triggered damped large-amplitude longitudinal (LAL) oscillations in almost an entire filament. In the present work we analyze this periodic motion in the filament to characterize the damping and restoring mechanism of the oscillation. Our method involves placing slits along the axis of the filament at different angles with respect to the spine of the filament, finding the angle at which the oscillation is clearest, and fitting the resulting oscillation pattern to decaying sinusoidal and Bessel functions. These functions represent the equations of motion of a pendulum damped by mass accretion. With this method we determine the period and the decaying time of the oscillation. Our preliminary results support the theory presented by Luna and Karpen (2012) that the restoring force of LAL oscillations is solar gravity in the tubes where the threads oscillate, and the damping mechanism is the ongoing accumulation of mass onto the oscillating threads. Following an earlier paper, we have determined the magnitude and radius of curvature of the dipped magnetic flux tubes hosting a thread along the filament, as well as the mass accretion rate of the filament threads, via the fitted parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNature of Prominences and their Role in Space Weather
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages428-429
Number of pages2
EditionS300
ISBN (Print)9781107045194
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
NumberS300
Volume8
ISSN (Print)1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)1743-9221

Keywords

  • Magnetic structures
  • Oscillations
  • Solar prominences

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