On the oscillatory motions of the principal plane of the solar corona

Abstract

We define the principal plane of the solar corona as the equatorial plane of the dipole component of the solar magnetic field at the source surface. The position of this plane defines the orientation of the heliospheric current sheet and the outer solar corona in 3D space, in particular, their inclination with respect to the solar equatorial plane. Their tilt varies from almost zero at solar minimum to almost 90° at solar maximum. But this change is not monotonic; more or less regular oscillations are superimposed onto the average curve. Data on the inclination of the coronal principal plane during 1994–2000 were analyzed. Oscillations with a quasiperiod of 1.3 years were clearly revealed. These oscillations were found to be correlated with variations of the solar rotation rate at the base of the solar convection zone. The latter variations have the same quasi-period of 1.3 years, but they are 1 month out of phase.