Acoustic Energy Generated by Convection: 3-D Numerical Simulations for the Sun

• Dissipation of acoustic waves may be an efficient heating mechanism forthe lower and middle chromosphere of the quiet Sun. The basic idea isthat turbulent motions at the top of the solar convection zone generateacoustic waves which propagate upwards and dissipate in the lower andmiddle chromosphere, transporting energy into the higher layers. Butstill the question remains if this amount of energy is sufficient toexplain the observed temperature increase without invoking magneticfields. With a new version of the COBOLD radiation hydrodynamics code weare able to compute 3-D models extending all the way from the upperconvection zone to the middle chromosphere. First 3-D simulations reveala complex, inhomogenous and highly dynamical structure of the lower andmiddle chromosphere which evolves on rather short timescales. On smallspatial dimensions very cool regions are present next to a "network" ofhotter matter. The code is being developed further to provide a moredetailed analysis and comparison with observations.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)