Coronal loop seismology using damping of standing kink oscillations by mode coupling: II. additional physical effects and Bayesian analysis

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2017-04, Vol.600, p.A78
• Main Authors: Pascoe, D J, Anfinogentov, S, Nistico, G, Goddard, C R, Nakariakov, V M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bayesian analysis; Coronal loops; Coupling; Damping; Envelopes; Mathematical models; Oscillations; Seismology
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201629702

Context. The strong damping of kink oscillations of coronal loops can be explained by mode coupling. The damping envelope depends on the transverse density profile of the loop. Observational measurements of the damping envelope have been used to determine the transverse loop structure which is important for understanding other physical processes such as heating. Aims. The general damping envelope describing the mode coupling of kink waves consists of a Gaussian damping regime followed by an exponential damping regime. Recent observational detection of these damping regimes has been employed as a seismological tool. We extend the description of the damping behaviour to account for additional physical effects, namely a time-dependent period of oscillation, the presence of additional longitudinal harmonics, and the decayless regime of standing kink oscillations. Methods. We examine four examples of standing kink oscillations observed by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We use forward modelling of the loop position and investigate the dependence on the model parameters using Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. Results. Our improvements to the physical model combined with the use of Bayesian inference and MCMC produce improved estimates of model parameters and their uncertainties. Calculation of the Bayes factor also allows us to compare the suitability of different physical models. We also use a new method based on spline interpolation of the zeroes of the oscillation to accurately describe the background trend of the oscillating loop. Conclusions. This powerful and robust method allows for accurate seismology of coronal loops, in particular the transverse density profile, and potentially reveals additional physical effects.