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Due to non-homogeneous mass distribution and non-uniform velocity rate inside the Sun, the solar outer shape is distorted in latitude. In this paper, we analyze the consequences of a temporal change in this figure on the luminosity. To do so, we use the Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) as an indicator of luminosity. Considering that most of the authors have explained the largest part of the TSI modulation with magnetic network (spots and faculae) but not the whole, we could set constraints on radius and effective temperature variations (dR, dT). However computations show that the amplitude of solar irradiance modulation is very sensitive to photospheric temperature variations. In order to understand discrepancies between our best fit and recent observations of Livingston et al. (2005), showing no effective surface temperature variation during the solar cycle, we investigated small effective temperature variation in irradiance modeling. We emphasized a phase-shift (correlated or anticorrelated radius and irradiance variations) in the (dR, dT)-parameter plane. We further obtained an upper limit on the amplitude of cyclic solar radius variations, deduced from the gravitational energy variations. Our estimate is consistent with both observations of the helioseismic radius through the analysis of f-mode frequencies and observations of the basal photospheric temperature at Kitt Peak. Finally, we suggest a mechanism to explain faint changes in the solar shape due to variation of magnetic pressure which modifies the granules size. This mechanism is supported by our estimate of the asphericity-luminosity parameter, which implies an effectiveness of convective heat transfer only in very outer layers of the Sun.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure, 1 table, published in New Astronom

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Interaction of Alfvén waves with plasma inhomogeneities generates phase mixing which can lead to dissipate Alfvén waves and to heat the solar plasma.Here we study the dissipation of Alfvén waves by phase mixing due to viscosity and resistivity variations with height. We also consider nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in our theoretical model. Nonlinear terms of MHD equations include perturbed velocity, magnetic field, and density. To investigate the damping of Alfvén waves in a stratified atmosphere of solar spicules, we solve the non-linear MHD equations in the x−z plane. Our simulations show that the damping is enhanced due to viscosity and resistivity gradients. Moreover, energy variations is influenced due to nonlinear terms in MHD equations.

Alfvénic waves are thought to play an important role in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. Here we investigate the dissipation of standing Alfvén waves due to phase mixing at the presence of steady flow and sheared magnetic field in the stratified atmosphere of solar spicules. The transition region between chromosphere and corona has also been considered. The initial flow is assumed to be directed along spicule axis, and the equilibrium magnetic field is taken 2-dimensional and divergence-free. It is determined that in contrast to propagating Alfvén waves, standing Alfvén waves dissipate in time rather than in space. Density gradients and sheared magnetic fields can enhance damping due to phase mixing. Damping times deduced from our numerical calculations are in good agreement with spicule lifetimes. Since spicules are short living and transient structures, such a fast dissipation mechanism is needed to transport their energy to the corona.

We model the propagation of slow magnetoacoustic body waves in solar jets in the course of negative energy wave excitation in the context of magnetohydrodynamic theory. Explicit approximate expressions are provided for the dispersion relation of slow body waves, providing insight into the influence of the steady flow speed, radiative cooling, and plasma-β at a glance. Analytic expressions are provided regarding critical speeds in the presence of backward waves, negative energy wave speeds, and instabilities. The buildup of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability above the negative energy wave instability is expressed through analytic expressions that provide insight into the interplay of equilibrium conditions and dispersive effects as they affect the instability growth rate of slow body waves at various altitudes. As slow magnetoacoustic waves propagate with the same speed in the long-wavelength limit, slow body kink waves experience stronger dispersion than sausage waves. Backward waves are also probable at lower steady flow speeds for medium wavelengths when the jet hosts slow body kink waves that provide greater domains for dissipative processes. Slow body sausage waves grow faster while nearing the long-wavelength limit, while the internal plasma-β decreases the instability growth rate. The seismological aspect is that energy transfer to the external medium is observed on various timescales. The observational aspect is that slow body kink waves may exist at higher altitudes as energy has already been extracted to the external medium due to negative energy unstable slow body sausage waves in earlier stages contributing toward coronal heating.

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