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Braun, D. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Braun, D. C..

9 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Helioseismology of a Realistic Magnetoconvective Sunspot Simulation

We compare helioseismic travel-time shifts measured from a realistic magnetoconvective sunspot simulation using both helioseismic holography and time-distance helioseismology, and measured from real sunspots observed with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager instrument on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Michelson Doppler Imager instrument on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. We find remarkable similarities in the travel-time shifts measured between the methodologies applied and between the simulated and real sunspots. Forward modeling of the travel-time shifts using either Born or ray approximation kernels and the sound-speed perturbations present in the simulation indicates major disagreements with the measured travel-time shifts. These findings do not substantially change with the application of a correction for the reduction of wave amplitudes in the simulated and real sunspots. Overall, our findings demonstrate the need for new methods for inferring the subsurface structure of sunspots through helioseismic inversions.

Sun-interior↗
NASA NTRS1995

Active region seismology

Active region seismology is concerned with the determination and interpretation of the interaction of the solar acoustic oscillations with near-surface target structures, such as magnetic flux concentration, sunspots, and plage. Recent observations made with a high spatial resolution and a long temporal duration enabled measurements of the scattering matrix for sunspots and solar active regions to be carried out as a function of the mode properties. Based on this information, the amount of p-mode absorption, partial-wave phase shift, and mode mixing introduced by the sunspot, could be determined. In addition, the possibility of detecting the presence of completely submerged magnetic fields was raised, and new procedures for performing acoustic holography of the solar interior are being developed. The accumulating evidence points to the mode conversion of p-modes to various magneto-atmospheric waves within the magnetic flux concentration as being the unifying physical mechanism responsible for these diverse phenomena.

Bogdan, Tom↗
NASA NTRS1992

Scattering of p-modes by a sunspot

The acoustic scattering properties of a large sunspot are determined from a Fourier-Hankel decomposition of p-mode amplitudes as measured from a 68-hr subset of a larger set of observations made at the South Pole in 1988. It is shown that significant improvement in the measurement of p-mode scattering amplitudes results from the increased temporal frequency resolution provided by these data. Scattering phase shifts are unambiguously determined for the first time, and the dependence of the p-mode phase shift and absorption with wavenumber and frequency is presented.

Braun, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Power spectra of solar convection

The properties of convective motions on the sun are studied using Kitt Peak Doppler images and power spectra of convection. The power peaks at a scale of about 29,000 km and drops off smoothly with wavenumber. There is no evidence of apparent energy excess at the scale of the mesogranulation proposed by other authors. The vertical and horizontal power for each wavenumber are obtained and used to calculate the vertical and horizontal velocities of the supergranulation. The amplitude of vertical and horizontal velocities of the supergranulation are 0.034 (+ or - 0.002) km/s and 0.38 (+ or - 0.01) km/s, respectively. The corresponding rms values are 0.024 (+ or - 0.002) km/s and 0.27 (+ or - 0.01) km/s.

Chou, D.-Y.↗
NASA NTRS1990

p-mode absorption in the giant active region of 10 March, 1989

The interaction of solar p-mode oscillations with solar active regions has been studied in the case of the velocity oscillations observed in the vicinity of NOAA region 5359 on March 10, 1989. A maximum of nearly 70 percent of the power of incident high-degree modes is noted to be absorbed by this exceptionally large sunspot group. The occurrence of a major flare within this region during the observing sequence furnished a unique opportunity for testing the hypothesis that flares can excite photospheric acoustic waves. A search for acoustic 'pulses' emanating from the flare leads no detection of pulses, to a level of about 20 percent of the background power.

Braun, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The spatial distribution of p-mode absorption in active regions

The interaction of solar p-mode waves and active regions has been the subject of recent observational and theoretical investigations. Observations show that up to one-half of the power of incident high-degree acoustic may be absorbed in and around sunspots. In this paper the horizontal spatial distribution of high-degree p-mode absorption in solar active regions is explored. An appropriate Fourier-Hankel transform can be used to detect the mean absorption of waves passing through any given point on the solar surface. By repeating the analysis at multiple positions a map of the absorption can be constructed. A technique for optimal computation of absorption maps is developed and applied to observations of several active regions and an area of quiet sun near disk center. By comparing the distribution of p-mode absorption with magnetograms and line-wing intensity images, it is directly observed that the absorption is not limited to the location of the visible sunspots but is also associated with magnetic fields in the surrounding plage. It is estimated that the absorption efficiency scales roughly with the magnetic flux density, although the absorption appears to saturate inside the strongest fields.

Braun, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The absorption of high-degree p-mode oscillations in and around sunspots

The paper presents a technique for directly measuring the effect of local regions on solar p-mode oscillations. It was used to detect and measure p-mode absorption in and around several sunspots. Sunspots are found to absorb an energy flux of the order of about 10 to the 7th ergs/ sq cm s, which is about 0.0001 of the sunspot energy deficit. Thus, p-modes have only a negligible effect on the total sunspot energetics. However, the effect of active regions in dissipating high-degree p-mode energy appears to be very significant.

Braun, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Acoustic absorption by sunspots

The paper presents the initial results of a series of observations designed to probe the nature of sunspots by detecting their influence on high-degree p-mode oscillations in the surrounding photosphere. The analysis decomposes the observed oscillations into radially propagating waves described by Hankel functions in a cylindrical coordinate system centered on the sunspot. From measurements of the differences in power between waves traveling outward and inward, it is demonstrated that sunspots appear to absorb as much as 50 percent of the incoming acoustic waves. It is found that for all three sunspots observed, the amount of absorption increases linearly with horizontal wavenumber. The effect is present in p-mode oscillations with wavelengths both significantly larger and smaller than the diameter of the sunspot umbrae. Actual absorption of acoustic energy of the magnitude observed may produce measurable decreases in the power and lifetimes of high-degree p-mode oscillations during periods of high solar activity.

Braun, D. C.↗