Inference of magnetic field in the coronal streamer invoking kink wave motions generated by multiple EUV waves

Abstract

We analyse the observations from Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) of an oscillating coronal streamer. STEREO-B Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging (EUVI) temporal data on 2012 March 7 show an evolution of two consecutive EUV waves that interact with footpoint of a coronal streamer clearly evident in the co-spatial and co-temporal STEREO-B/COR-1 observations. The waves are observed in the STEREO-B/EUVI too, and its apparent energy exchange with coronal streamer generates kink oscillations. We apply the methodology of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) seismology of the observed waves and determine the magnetic field profile of the coronal streamer. In particular, we estimate the phase velocities of the kink wave perturbations by tracking them at different heights. We also estimate electron densities inside and outside the streamer using spherically symmetric inversion of polarized brightness images in STEREO-B/COR-1.We detect two large-scale kink wave oscillations that diagnose exponentially decaying radial profiles of magnetic field in streamer up to 3 solar radii. Within the limit of observational and systematic uncertainties, we find that magnetic field of streamer varies slowly at various heights, although its nature always remains exponentially decaying with height. It is seen that during evolution of second kink motion in streamer, it increases in brightness (thus mass density), and also in areal extent slightly, which may be associated with decreased photospheric magnetic flux at footpoint of streamer. As a result, magnetic field profile produced by second kink wave is reduced within streamer compared to the one diagnosed by the first one. © 2017 The Authors.