On the doppler velocity of emission line profiles formed in the "cORONAL CONTRAFLOW" that is the chromosphere-corona mass cycle

Scott W. McIntosh, Hui Tian, Marybeth Sechler, Bart De Pontieu

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Abstract

This analysis begins to explore the complex chromosphere-corona mass cycle using a blend of imaging and spectroscopic diagnostics. Single Gaussian fits (SGFs) to hot emission line profiles (formed above 1MK) at the base of coronal loop structures indicate material blueshifts of 5-10kms-1, while cool emission line profiles (formed below 1MK) yield redshifts of a similar magnitude - indicating, to zeroth order, that a temperature-dependent bifurcating flow exists on coronal structures. Image sequences of the same region reveal weakly emitting upward propagating disturbances in both hot and cool emission with apparent speeds of 50-150kms-1. Spectroscopic observations indicate that these propagating disturbances produce a weak emission component in the blue wing at commensurate speed, but that they contribute only a few percent to the (ensemble) emission line profile in a single spatio-temporal resolution element. Subsequent analysis of imaging data shows material "draining" slowly (10kms-1) out of the corona, but only in the cooler passbands. We interpret the draining as the return flow of coronal material at the end of the complex chromosphere-corona mass cycle. Further, we suggest that the efficient radiative cooling of the draining material produces a significant contribution to the red wing of cool emission lines that is ultimately responsible for their systematic redshift as derived from an SGF when compared to those formed in hotter (conductively dominated) domains. The presence of counterstreaming flows complicates the line profiles, their interpretation, and asymmetry diagnoses, but allows a different physical picture of the lower corona to develop.

Original languageEnglish
Article number60
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume749
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 10 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Sun: chromosphere
  • Sun: corona
  • Sun: transition region

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