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Abstract We report on a flare-driven coronal rain event observed along postflare loops during the decay phase of an X1.6-class solar flare. Although high-resolution studies of flare-driven coronal rain have been conducted, imaging spectroscopic studies are rare due to observational difficulties. Our observation taken with the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph, installed at the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope of the Big Bear Solar Observatory, provided unprecedented high-resolution spectroscopic imaging data of coronal rain in the Hαand Caii854.2 nm lines. We identify two locations along postflare loops with rain displaying distinctly different thermal properties, different Doppler velocities, and different patterns of acceleration and deceleration. We also observed intense brightening at one footpoint of coronal rain, where the spectroscopic analysis reveals an energy conversion process resulting in significant localized chromospheric heating. We thoroughly investigate the footpoint brightening Doppler velocities and compare their spectral line profiles to typical flare-ribbon line profiles. We estimate the spatial scale of the fine structure of the coronal rain and the footpoint brightening. Our results provide important insights into the dynamic and thermal properties of flare-driven coronal rain and the related chromospheric response, which will help validate the flare-driven modeling of coronal rain. 

Context.The elemental abundance in the solar corona differs from that in the photosphere, with low first ionization potential (FIP) elements showing enhanced abundances, a phenomenon known as the FIP effect. This effect is considered to be driven by ponderomotive forces associated with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, particularly incompressible transverse waves. Aims.We aim to investigate the relationship between coronal abundance fractionation and transverse MHD waves in the chromosphere. We focus on analyzing the spatial correlation between the FIP fractionation and these waves, while exploring wave properties to validate the ponderomotive-force-driven fractionation model. Methods.We analyzed the Hαdata from the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph of the Goode Solar Telescope to detect chromospheric transverse MHD waves, and Si X(low FIP) and S X(high FIP) spectra from the EUV Imaging Spectrometer on board Hinode to determine the relative abundance in an active region. By extrapolating linear-force-free magnetic fields with Solar Dynamics Observatory/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager magnetograms, we examine the connection between chromospheric waves and coronal composition. Around 400 wave packets were identified, and their properties, including the period, velocity amplitude, propagation speed, and propagation direction, were studied. Results.These chromospheric transverse MHD waves, mostly incompressible or weakly compressible, are found near loop footpoints, particularly in the sunspot penumbra and superpenumbral fibrils. The highly fractionated coronal region is associated with areas where these waves were detected within closed magnetic fields. Our examination of the statistics of wave properties revealed that downward-propagating low-frequency waves are particularly prominent, comprising about 43% of the detected waves. Conclusions.The correlation between abundance fractionation and transverse MHD waves, along with wave properties, supports the hypothesis that FIP fractionation occurs due to the ponderomotive force from transverse MHD waves in the chromosphere. Additionally, the observed characteristics of these chromospheric waves provide valuable observational constraints for understanding the FIP fractionation process. 

Abstract Small-scale jets, such as chromospheric and transition region (TR) network jets, are of great interest regarding coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. Spectroscopic analysis based on multiple spectral lines with different formation temperatures is essential for understanding the physical properties and driving mechanisms of jets. Here, we conduct an investigation of the physical properties of a small-scale chromospheric jet in a quiet-Sun network region and its TR counterpart. This jet is recorded from formation to extinction using the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph at the Goode Solar Telescope and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. The chromospheric component of the jet exhibits a high line-of-sight speed of up to 45 km s⁻¹during its ascending phase, accompanied by spectral profiles akin to rapid blueshifted excursion and downflowing rapid redshifted excursion during the descending phase. Using a cloud model combined with a Multi-Layer Spectral Inversion, we quantify the jet’s temperature during its ascending phase, which starts at approximately 11,000 K and increases by only 1000 K over 1 minute, much smaller than a few 10⁴K, the excess temperature expected in an ideal gas reconnection jet at an outflow speed of 45 km s⁻¹. The TR counterpart exhibits a Siiv1394 Å line profile with a non-Gaussian shape, including a blueshifted component and a large nonthermal width. Our results suggest that if the jet is driven by magnetic reconnection in the chromosphere, the heat released by the reconnection may be mostly used to ionize the hydrogen rather than to increase the temperature so that the gas may appear almost isothermal. 

Abstract We report a magnetic relaxation process inside a sunspot associated with the evolution of a transient light bridge (LB). From high-resolution imaging and spectro-polarimetric data taken by the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope installed at Big Bear Solar Observatory, we observe the evolutionary process of a rapidly evolving LB. The LB is formed as a result of the strong intrusion of filamentary structures with relatively horizontal fields into the vertical umbral field region. A strong current density is detected along a localized region where the magnetic field topology changes rapidly in the sunspot, especially in the boundary region between the LB and the umbra, and bright jets are observed intermittently and repeatedly in the chromosphere along this region through magnetic reconnection. In the second half of our observation, the horizontal component of the magnetic field diminishes within the LB, and the typical convection structure within the sunspot, which manifests itself as umbral dots, is restored. Our findings provide a comprehensive perspective not only on the evolution of an LB itself but also on its impacts in the neighboring regions, including the chromospheric activity and the change of magnetic energy of a sunspot. 

Abstract We report the detection of transverse magnetohydrodynamic waves, also known as Alfvénic waves, in the chromospheric fibrils of a solar-quiet region. Unlike previous studies that measured transversal displacements of fibrils in imaging data, we investigate the line-of-sight (LOS) velocity oscillations of the fibrils in spectral data. The observations were carried out with the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph of the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. By applying spectral inversion to the Hαand Caii8542 Å line profiles, we determine various physical parameters, including the LOS velocity in the chromosphere of the quiet Sun. In the Hαdata, we select two adjacent points along the fibrils and analyze the LOS velocities at those points. For the time series of the velocities that show high cross-correlation between the two points and do not exhibit any correlation with intensity, we interpret them as propagating Alfvénic wave packets. We identify a total of 385 Alfvénic wave packets in the quiet-Sun fibrils. The mean values of the period, velocity amplitude, and propagation speed are 7.5 minutes, 1.33 km s⁻¹, and 123 km s⁻¹, respectively. We find that the detected waves are classified into three groups based on their periods, namely, 3, 5, and 10 minute bands. Each group of waves exhibits distinct wave properties, indicating a possible connection to their generation mechanism. Based on our results, we expect that the identification of Alfvénic waves in various regions will provide clues to their origin and the underlying physical processes in the solar atmosphere. 

Abstract We used 29 high-resolution line-of-sight magnetograms acquired with the Goode Solar Telescope (GST) in a quiet-Sun area to extrapolate a series of potential field configurations and study their time variations. The study showed that there are regions that consistently exhibit changes in loop connectivity, whereas other vast areas do not show such changes. Analysis of the topological features of the potential fields indicates that the photospheric footprint of the separatrix between open- and closed-loop systems closely matches the roots of rapid blue- and redshifted excursions, which are disk counterparts of type II spicules. There is a tendency for the footpoints of the observed H_αfeatures to be cospatial with the footpoints of the loops that most frequently change their connectivity, while the area occupied by the open fields that did not show any significant and persistent connectivity changes is void of prominent jet and spicular activity. We also detected and tracked magnetic elements using the Southwest Automatic Magnetic Identification Suite and GST magnetograms, which allowed us to construct artificial magnetograms and calculate the corresponding potential field configurations. Analysis of the artificial data showed tendencies similar to those found for the observed data. The present study suggests that a significant amount of chromospheric activity observed in the far wings of the H_αspectral line may be generated by reconnecting closed-loop systems and canopy fields consisting of “open” field lines. 

Abstract Plumes are bright structures in coronal holes extending from the solar surface into the corona and are considered as a possible source of the solar wind. Plumes are thought to be rooted in strong unipolar photospheric flux patches (network/plage region). The magnetic activities at the base of plumes may play a crucial role in producing outflows and propagating disturbances (PDs). However, the role of photospheric/chromospheric activities (e.g., jets/spicules) at the base of plumes and their connection to PDs is poorly understood. Using high-resolution observations of a plume taken on 2020 July 23 with the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope (GST), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we analyzed chromospheric/transition region activities at the base of the plume and their connection to outflows/PDs in the plume. The GST Visible Imaging Spectrometer images reveal repetitive spicules with blueshifted emission (pseudo-Doppler maps) at the plume’s footpoint. In addition, the photospheric magnetograms provide evidence of mixed polarities at the base of the plume. The IRIS Mg ii k Dopplergrams show strong blueshifted emission (∼50 km s −1 ) and a high brightness temperature (Mg ii k2 line) at the footpoint of the plume. The long-period PDs ( P ≈ 20–25 minutes) along the plume (AIA 171 Å) match the periodicity of spicules in the chromospheric images, suggesting a close connection between the spicules and the PDs. We suggest that the interchange reconnection between the closed and open flux of the coronal bright point at the plume’s footpoint is the most likely candidate to produce upflows and associated PDs along the plume. 

Abstract Recent observations provided evidence that the solar chromosphere of sunspot regions is pervaded by Alfvénic waves—transverse magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves (Alfvén waves or kink waves). In order to systematically investigate the physical characteristics of Alfvénic waves over a wide range of periods, we analyzed the time series of line-of-sight velocity maps constructed from the H α spectral data of a small sunspot region taken by the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph of the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear. We identified each Alfvénic wave packet by examining the cross-correlation of band-filtered velocity between two points that are located a little apart presumably on the same magnetic field line. As result, we detected a total of 279 wave packets in the superpenumbral region around the sunspot and obtained their statistics of period, velocity amplitude, and propagation speed. An important finding of ours is that the detected Alfvénic waves are clearly separated into two groups: 3-minute period (<7 minutes) waves and 10-minute period (>7 minutes) waves. We propose two tales on the origin of Alfvénic waves in the chromosphere; the 3-minute Alfvénic waves are excited by the upward-propagating slow waves in the chromosphere through the slow-to-Alfvénic mode conversion, and the 10-minute Alfvénic waves represent the chromospheric manifestation of the kink waves driven by convective motions in the photosphere. 

Using multi-wavelength observations, we analysed magnetic field variations associated with a gradual X1.2 flare that erupted on January 7, 2014 in active region (AR) NOAA 11944 located near the disk center. A fast coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed following the flare, which was noticeably deflected in the south-west direction. A chromospheric filament was observed at the eruption site prior to and after the flare. We used SDO/HMI data to perform non-linear force-free field extrapolation of coronal magnetic fields above the AR and to study the evolution of AR magnetic fields prior to the eruption. The extrapolated data allowed us to detect signatures of several magnetic flux ropes present at the eruption site several hours before the event. The eruption site was located under slanted sunspot fields with a varying decay index of 1.0-1.5. That might have caused the erupting fields to slide along this slanted magnetic boundary rather than vertically erupt, thus explaining the slow rise of the flare as well as the observed direction of the resulting CME. We employed sign-singularity tools to quantify the evolutionary changes in the model twist and observed current helicity data, and found rapid and coordinated variations of current systems in both data sets prior to the event as well as their rapid exhaustion after the event onset.