[en] The nonlinear evolution of magnetoacoustic waves in a nonadiabatic plasma is investigated analytically. The effect of plasma activity due to linear and quadratic heating and radiative cooling on propagating magnetoacoustic waves in a uniform plasma is considered. A nonlinear evolution equation is derived and stationary solutions are looked for the various combination of signs of the linear and quadratic heating-cooling terms, which determine the thermal activity of the plasma. It is shown that self-organizing magnetoacoustic waves (autowaves) exist in an active plasma. These wave have amplitudes that are independent from the initial conditions and function of plasma properties only. Their potential diagnostic purposes are discussed. Furthermore, magnetoacoustic autosolitary waves are shown to exist. They have been modeled using a novel perturbative technique, which allows to determine their propagation speed and shape.

[en] We use observations of a slow magnetohydrodynamic wave in the corona to determine for the first time the value of the effective adiabatic index, using data from the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer on board Hinode. We detect oscillations in the electron density, using the CHIANTI atomic database to perform spectroscopy. From the time-dependent wave signals from multiple spectral lines the relationship between relative density and temperature perturbations is determined, which allows in turn to measure the effective adiabatic index to be γ_eff = 1.10 ± 0.02. This confirms that the thermal conduction along the magnetic field is very efficient in the solar corona. The thermal conduction coefficient is measured from the phase lag between the temperature and density, and is shown to be compatible with Spitzer conductivity.

[en] High-resolution observations of dynamic phenomena give insights into the properties and processes that govern the low solar atmosphere. We present an analysis of jet-like phenomena emanating from a penumbral footpoint in active region (AR) 12192 using imaging and spectral observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. These jets are associated with line-of-sight Doppler speeds of ±10–22 km s⁻¹ and bright fronts that seem to move across the plane-of-sky at speeds of 23–130 km s⁻¹. Such speeds are considerably higher than the expected sound speed in the chromosphere. The jets have signatures that are visible both in the cool and hot channels of IRIS and AIA. Each jet lasts on average 15 minutes and occurs 5–7 times over a period of 2 hr. Possible mechanisms to explain this phenomenon are suggested, the most likely of which involve p-mode or Alfvén wave shock trains impinging on the transition region and corona as a result of steepening photospheric wavefronts or gravity waves.

[en] Flows and instabilities play a major role in the dynamics of magnetized plasmas including the solar corona, magnetospheric and heliospheric boundaries, cometary tails, and astrophysical jets. The nonlinear effects, multi-scale and microphysical interactions inherent to the flow-driven instabilities, are believed to play a role, e.g., in plasma entry across a discontinuity, generation of turbulence, and enhanced drag. However, in order to clarify the efficiency of macroscopic instabilities in these processes, we lack proper knowledge of their overall morphological features. Here we show the first observations of the temporally and spatially resolved evolution of the magnetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the solar corona. Unprecedented high-resolution imaging observations of vortices developing at the surface of a fast coronal mass ejecta are taken by the new Solar Dynamics Observatory, validating theories of the nonlinear dynamics involved. The new findings are a cornerstone for developing a unifying theory on flow-driven instabilities in rarefied magnetized plasmas, which is important for understanding the fundamental processes at work in key regions of the Sun-Earth system.

[en] New capabilities for studying the Sun allow us to image for the first time the magnetic Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability developing at the surface of a fast coronal mass ejecta (CME) less than 150 Mm above the solar surface. We conduct a detailed observational investigation of this phenomenon, observed off the east solar limb on 2010 November 3, in the EUV with SDO/AIA. In conjunction with STEREO-B/EUVI, we derive the CME source surface position. We ascertain the timing and early evolution of the CME outflow leading to the instability onset. We perform image and spectral analysis, exploring the CME plasma structuring and its parabolic flow pattern. As we evaluate and validate the consistency of the observations with theoretical considerations and predictions, we take the view that the ejecta layer corresponds to a reconnection outflow layer surrounding the erupting flux rope, accounting for the timing, high temperature (∼11.6 MK), and high flow shear (∼680 km s^–1) on the unstable CME northern flank and for the observed asymmetry between the CME flanks. From the irregular evolution of the CME flow pattern, we infer a shear gradient consistent with expected spatial flow variations across the KH-unstable flank. The KH phenomenon observed is tied to the first stage of a linked flare-CME event.