A Self-consistent Model for the Generation of Coronal Condensations: The Effects of Turbulent Wave Dissipation
Abstract
Prominences and coronal rain are two manifestations of coronal condensations whose formation mechanisms remain only partially understood. While previous studies have explored how localised steady or stochastic heating can trigger thermal instability and condensations, the role of wave driven energy transport and dissipation has not been extensively investigated. In the solar atmosphere, Alfven and kink waves are an abundant source of energy capable of contributing both to coronal heating and plasma structuring, making them compelling candidates in the formation processes of the structures we observe in the corona. We aim to explore how Alfven and kink wave energy and their dissipation influence the formation and evolution of condensations in coronal magnetic structures. In particular, we investigate each waves role independently of parameterised external heating mechanisms to isolate whether either wave can trigger condensations. We perform 2.5D simulations using the open source MPI AMRVAC code extended with the newly developed UAWSoM module. This module self consistently evolves Alfven and kink wave energy and their feedback on the plasma through wave pressure and heating terms. We examine the conditions under which condensations form, their morphology, and their dynamical evolution. Our results show that for our range of parameters, in 2.5D MHD, Alfven waves did not trigger the formation of prominences or condensations. We find that if the radius of the fine scale structures supporting the kink waves is of the order of 100 km, then kink waves can trigger coronal rain that differs considerably in its morphology from coronal rain triggered by parameterised heating functions. Through the use of UAWSoM, we have established that Alfven and kink waves leave distinct thermodynamic signatures on coronal loops, given the same wave energy injection.
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BibTeX
@misc{mcmurdo2026selfconsistent,
title = {{A Self-consistent Model for the Generation of Coronal Condensations: The Effects of Turbulent Wave Dissipation}},
author = {M. McMurdo and V. Jercic and T. Van Doorsselaere and C. Froment},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.15280},
eprint = {2609.15280},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.15280},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - A Self-consistent Model for the Generation of Coronal Condensations: The Effects of Turbulent Wave Dissipation
AU - M. McMurdo
AU - V. Jercic
AU - T. Van Doorsselaere
AU - C. Froment
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/14
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.15280
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.15280
AB - Prominences and coronal rain are two manifestations of coronal condensations whose formation mechanisms remain only partially understood. While previous studies have explored how localised steady or stochastic heating can trigger thermal instability and condensations, the role of wave driven energy transport and dissipation has not been extensively investigated. In the solar atmosphere, Alfven and kink waves are an abundant source of energy capable of contributing both to coronal heating and plasma structuring, making them compelling candidates in the formation processes of the structures we observe in the corona. We aim to explore how Alfven and kink wave energy and their dissipation influence the formation and evolution of condensations in coronal magnetic structures. In particular, we investigate each waves role independently of parameterised external heating mechanisms to isolate whether either wave can trigger condensations. We perform 2.5D simulations using the open source MPI AMRVAC code extended with the newly developed UAWSoM module. This module self consistently evolves Alfven and kink wave energy and their feedback on the plasma through wave pressure and heating terms. We examine the conditions under which condensations form, their morphology, and their dynamical evolution. Our results show that for our range of parameters, in 2.5D MHD, Alfven waves did not trigger the formation of prominences or condensations. We find that if the radius of the fine scale structures supporting the kink waves is of the order of 100 km, then kink waves can trigger coronal rain that differs considerably in its morphology from coronal rain triggered by parameterised heating functions. Through the use of UAWSoM, we have established that Alfven and kink waves leave distinct thermodynamic signatures on coronal loops, given the same wave energy injection.
ER -