High-Frequency Transverse Waves in Chromospheric Fibrils Revealed by DKIST

arXiv:2610.19739 · astro-ph.SR · Submitted 2026-10-14 · Read on arXiv

astro-ph.SR

Submitted: 2026-10-14

Updated: 2026-10-14

Comments: 10 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The gist: Chromospheric fibrils are ubiquitous dynamical structures that can support magnetohydrodynamic waves and may contribute to energy transport in the solar atmosphere.

Abstract

Chromospheric fibrils are ubiquitous dynamical structures that can support magnetohydrodynamic waves and may contribute to energy transport in the solar atmosphere. Using high-resolution observations from the Visible Broadband Imager (VBI) onboard the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST), we investigate transverse oscillations of H α fibrils. Our observations encompass both quiet-Sun and active regions. The results reveal that high-frequency transverse oscillations are highly prevalent in fibrils across different magnetic environments. The detected oscillations exhibit typical periods of 56 plus or minus 49 s, displacement amplitudes of 37 plus or minus 25 km, velocity amplitudes of 6 plus or minus 4 km,s-1, and phase velocities of 21 plus or minus 13 km,s-1. Under typical chromospheric conditions, the estimated wave energy flux ranges from 20 to 200 W,m-2. The characteristics of these transverse oscillations are consistent with those of Alfvénic kink-mode waves. Our results reveal the existence of the high-frequency, small-amplitude transverse waves in chromospheric fibrils and providing new constraints on their contribution to the chromospheric and coronal heating.

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