Speaker
Description
First Name: Jayant
Last Name: Joshi
Email Address: jayant.joshi@iiap.res.in
Affiliation: Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru
All Authors: Jayant Joshi
Abstract: Recent high-resolution observations reveal that small-scale magnetic reconnection in the solar lower atmosphere, manifested as quiet-Sun Ellerman bombs (QSEBs), is far more ubiquitous than previously recognised, with an estimated ∼750,000 events present across the quiet Sun at any given time. Using Hβ and Hε observations from the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope, we identify widespread QSEBs characterised by rapid temporal variability and flame-like morphologies. A subset of these events shows clear signatures of energy deposition reaching higher atmospheric layers. This is indicated by co-spatial and co-temporal ultraviolet brightenings in the Si IV lines observed with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, demonstrating that QSEBs can drive localized heating in the transition region. In addition, several QSEBs are temporally and spatially associated with the formation of type II spicules, supporting a scenario in which magnetic reconnection in the lower atmosphere contributes to the generation of spicules. While these effects are not universal, the observations establish QSEBs as an important mechanism for small-scale energy release, heating, and mass transport in the quiet Sun, highlighting their role in coupling the photosphere, chromosphere, and transition region.