Could switchbacks originate in the lower solar atmosphere? I. Formation mechanisms of switchbacks
arXiv:2103.03726 · doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abec49
Abstract
The recent rediscovery of magnetic field switchbacks or deflections embedded in the solar wind flow by the Parker Solar Probe mission lead to a huge interest in the modelling of the formation mechanisms and origin of these switchbacks. Several scenarios for their generation were put forth, ranging from lower solar atmospheric origins by reconnection, to being a manifestation of turbulence in the solar wind, and so on. Here we study some potential formation mechanisms of magnetic switchbacks in the lower solar atmosphere, using three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations. The model is that of an intense flux tube in an open magnetic field region, aiming to represent a magnetic bright point opening up to an open coronal magnetic field structure, e.g. a coronal hole. The model is driven with different plasma flows in the photosphere, such as a fast up-shooting jet, as well as shearing flows generated by vortex motions or torsional oscillations. In all scenarios considered, we witness the formation of magnetic switchbacks in regions corresponding to chromospheric heights. Therefore, photospheric plasma flows around the foot-points of intense flux tubes appear to be suitable drivers for the formation of magnetic switchbacks in the lower solar atmosphere. Nevertheless, these switchbacks do not appear to be able to enter the coronal heights of the simulation in the present model. In conclusion, based on the presented simulations, switchbacks measured in the solar wind are unlikely to originate from photospheric or chromospheric dynamics.
arXiv commentAccepted in ApJ
References in corpus (33)
- Alfven Waves in the Lower Solar Atmosphere
- Solar Coronal Jets: Observations, Theory, and Modeling
- MPI-AMRVAC for Solar and Astrophysics
- MPI-AMRVAC 2.0 for Solar and Astrophysical Applications
- Switchbacks in the near-Sun magnetic field: long memory and impact on the turbulence cascade
- Convectively driven vortex flows in the Sun
- The Solar Probe ANalyzers -- Electrons on Parker Solar Probe
- In-situ switchback formation in the expanding solar wind
- A Breakout Model for Solar Coronal Jets with Filaments
- SUNRISE/IMaX observations of convectively driven vortex flows in the Sun
- Magnetic field kinks and folds in the solar wind
- The dynamical disconnection of sunspots from their magnetic roots
- Cross Helicity Reversals In Magnetic Switchbacks
- Dynamics of the solar magnetic bright points derived from their horizontal motions
- Vortices in simulations of solar surface convection
- Spectroscopic signature of Alfvén waves damping in a polar coronal hole up to 0.4 solar radii
- Stability of rotating magnetized jets in the solar atmosphere. I. Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
- Ubiquitous Solar Eruptions Driven by Magnetized Vortex Tubes
- The size distribution of magnetic bright points derived from Hinode/SOT observations
- Reconnection in the ISM
- Excitation of Slow-Modes in Network Magnetic Elements Through Magnetic Pumping
- What causes the high apparent speeds in chromospheric and transition region spicules on the Sun?
- Magnetic field strength distribution of magnetic bright points inferred from filtergrams and spectro-polarimetric data
- Photospheric magnetic structure of coronal holes
- The formation and disintegration of magnetic bright points observed by Sunrise/IMaX
- Nonlinear evolution of short-wavelength torsional Alfven waves
- Solar Vortex Tubes: Vortex Dynamics in the Solar Atmosphere
- Spatial distribution and statistical properties of small-scale convective vortex-like motions in a quiet Sun region
- The spectrum of kink-like oscillations of solar photospheric magnetic elements
- Co-spatial velocity and magnetic swirls in the simulated solar photosphere
- Effects of Cowling Resistivity in the Weakly-Ionized Chromosphere
- Three-dimensional numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic-gravity waves and vortices in the solar atmosphere
- Doppler Events in the Solar Photosphere: The Coincident Superposition of Fast Granular Flows and p-mode Coherence Patches
Cited by in corpus (15)
- Parker Solar Probe: Four Years of Discoveries at Solar Cycle Minimum
- A solar source of Alfvénic magnetic field switchbacks: {\em in situ} remnants of magnetic funnels on supergranulation scales
- Observation of Magnetic Switchback in the Solar Corona
- On the origin of switchbacks observed in the solar wind
- Stirring the Base of the Solar Wind: On Heat Transfer and Vortex Formation
- On the properties of Alfvénic switchbacks in the expanding solar wind: the influence of the Parker spiral
- Could switchbacks originate in the lower solar atmosphere? II. Propagation of switchbacks in the solar corona
- A Comprehensive Simulation of Solar Wind Formation from the Solar Interior: Significant Cross-field Energy Transport by Interchange Reconnection near the Sun
- Observational evidence for two-component distributions describing solar magnetic bright points
- Analytic Model and Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations of Three-dimensional Magnetic Switchbacks
- Energetic particle dynamics in a simplified model of a solar wind magnetic switchback
- Exploring magnetic field properties at the boundary of solar pores: A comparative study based on SDO-HMI observations
- SynCOM: An Empirical Model for High-Resolution Simulations of Transient Solar Wind Flows
- Influence of the magnetic field topology in the evolution of small-scale two-fluid jets in the solar atmosphere
- Magnetic Switchback Occurrence Rates in the Inner Heliosphere: Parker Solar Probe and 1 au