The continuous spectrum of MHD waves in 2D solar loops and arcades. First results on poloidal mode coupling for poloidal magnetic fields

Abstract

A first attempt is made to study the continuous spectrum of linear ideal MHD for 2D solar loops and to understand how 2D effects change the continuum eigenfrequencies and continuum eigenfunctions. The continuous spectrum is computed for 2D solar loops with purely poloidal magnetic fields and it is investigated how non-circularity of the cross-sections of the poloidal magnetic surfaces and variations of density along the poloidal magnetic field lines change the continuous spectrum and induce poloidal wave number coupling in the eigenfunctions. Approximate analytical results and numerical results are obtained for the eigenfrequencies and the eigenfunctions and the poloidal wave number coupling is clearly illustrated. It is found that the continuum frequencies are substantially increased, that the ranges of the continuum frequencies are considerably enlarged and that the derivatives of the continuum frequencies normal to the magnetic surfaces are substantially increased. The eigenfunctions are strongly influenced by poloidal wave number coupling. Implications of these findings for the heating mechanisms of resonant absorption and phase mixing are briefly considered.