Simultaneous measurements of sunspot umbral oscillations in the photosphere, chromosphere, and transition region

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 312; no. 1; pp. 457 - 461
• Main Authors: Thomas, John H., Lites, Bruce W., Gurman, Joseph B., Ladd, Edwin F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Legacy CDMS University of Chicago Press 01.01.1987
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Solar Physics; Solar system; Sunspots, faculae, plages; Atmospheric dynamics; Oscillation; Solar atmosphere; Transition zone; Solar chromosphere; Solar photosphere; Sunspot; Spot umbra
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/164890

Measurements of umbral oscillations in a sunspot were made simultaneously from space (with the SMM/UVSP instrument) in the C IV transition-region line and from the ground (with the tower telescope at NSO/sunspot) in spectral lines formed in the photosphere and chromosphere. The power spectra of velocity and intensity variations show multiple peaks in the 3 min band (4.5-10 mHz). A strong oscillation at 5.5 mHz is coherent between the chromosphere and transition region. Another strong oscillation mode at 7.5 mHz is coherent between the photosphere and transition region and appears to have a node in the chromosphere. The rms velocity in the 3 min band is a little over 12 km/sec in both the chromosphere and transition region, but the kinetic energy density is lower in the transition region (by a factor of 10 or more) due to the lower mass density there. These measurements of amplitude and phase of the waves at different heights provided a new, independent method of testing or fitting models of the vertical temperature distribution in the umbral chromosphere and transition regions.