We present results of three-dimensional numerical simulations of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave propagation in a solar magnetic flux tube. Our study aims at understanding the properties of a range of MHD wave modes generated by different photospheric motions. We consider two scenarios observed in the lower solar photosphere, namely, granular buffeting and vortex-like motion, among the simplest mechanism for the generation of waves within a strong, localized magnetic flux concentration. We show that granular buffeting is likely to generate stronger slow and fast magnetoacoustic waves as compared to swirly motions. Correspondingly, the energy flux transported differs as a result of the driving motions. We also demonstrate that the waves generated by granular buffeting are likely to manifest in stronger emission in the chromospheric network. We argue that different mechanisms of wave generation are active during the evolution of a magnetic element in the intergranular lane, resulting in temporally varying emission at chromospheric heights.

Aims. We investigate wave propagation and energy transport in magnetic elements, which are representatives of small scale magnetic flux concentrations in the magnetic network on the Sun. This is a continuation of earlier work by Hasan et al. (2005, ApJ, 631, 1270. The new features in the present investigation include a quantitative evaluation of the energy transport in the various modes and for different field strengths, as well as the effect of the boundary-layer thickness on wave propagation. Methods. We carry out 2D MHD numerical simulations of magnetic flux concentrations for strong and moderate magnetic fields for which β (the ratio of gas to magnetic pressure) on the tube axis at the photospheric base is 0.4 and 1.7, respectively. Waves are excited in the tube and ambient medium by a transverse impulsive motion of the lower boundary.Results. The nature of the modes excited depends on the value of β. Mode conversion occurs in the moderate field case when the fast mode crosses the β = 1 contour. In the strong field case the fast mode undergoes conversion from predominantly magnetic to predominantly acoustic when waves are leaking from the interior of the flux concentration to the ambient medium. We also estimate the energy fluxes in the acoustic and magnetic modes and find that in the strong field case, the vertically directed acoustic wave fluxes reach spatially averaged, temporal maximum values of a few times 10 6 erg cm −2 s −1 at chromospheric height levels. Conclusions. The main conclusions of our work are twofold: firstly, for transverse, impulsive excitation, flux tubes/sheets with strong fields are more efficient than those with weak fields in providing acoustic flux to the chromosphere. However, there is insufficient energy in the acoustic flux to balance the chromospheric radiative losses in the network, even for the strong field case. Secondly, the acoustic emission from the interface between the flux concentration and the ambient medium decreases with the width of the boundary layer.

The solar atmosphere is magnetically structured and highly dynamic. Owing to the dynamic nature of the regions in which the magnetic structures exist, waves can be excited in them. Numerical investigations of wave propagation in small-scale magnetic flux concentrations in the magnetic network on the Sun have shown that the nature of the excited modes depends on the value of plasma β (the ratio of gas to magnetic pressure) where the driving motion occurs. Considering that these waves should give rise to observable characteristic signatures, we have attempted a study of synthesized emergent spectra from numerical simulations of magneto-acoustic wave propagation. We find that the signatures of wave propagation in a magnetic element can be detected when the spatial resolution is sufficiently high to clearly resolve it, enabling observations in different regions within the flux concentration. The possibility to probe various lines of sight around the flux concentration bears the potential to reveal different modes of the magnetohydrodynamic waves and mode conversion. We highlight the feasibility of using the Stokes-V asymmetries as a diagnostic tool to study the wave propagation within magnetic flux concentrations. These quantities can possibly be compared with existing and new observations in order to place constraints on different wave excitation mechanisms.