Cool transition region loops observed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph

Abstract

We report on the first Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) study of cool transition region loops. This class of loops has received little attention in the literature. A cluster of such loops was observed on the solar disk in active region NOAA11934, in the Si IV 1402.8 Å spectral raster and 1400 Å slit-jaw (SJ) images. We divide the loops into three groups and study their dynamics and interaction. The first group comprises relatively stable loops, with 382--626\,km cross-sections. Observed Doppler velocities are suggestive of siphon flows, gradually changing from -10 km/s at one end to 20 km/s at the other end of the loops. Nonthermal velocities from 15 to 25 km/s were determined. These physical properties suggest that these loops are impulsively heated by magnetic reconnection occurring at the blue-shifted footpoints where magnetic cancellation with a rate of $10^{15}$ Mx/s is found. The released magnetic energy is redistributed by the siphon flows. The second group corresponds to two footpoints rooted in mixed-magnetic-polarity regions, where magnetic cancellation occurred at a rate of $10^{15}$ Mx/s and line profiles with enhanced wings of up to 200 km/s were observed. These are suggestive of explosive-like events. The Doppler velocities combined with the SJ images suggest possible anti-parallel flows in finer loop strands. In the third group, interaction between two cool loop systems is observed. Evidence for magnetic reconnection between the two loop systems is reflected in the line profiles of explosive events, and a magnetic cancellation rate of $3\times10^{15}$ Mx/s observed in the corresponding area. The IRIS observations have thus opened a new window of opportunity for in-depth investigations of cool transition region loops. Further numerical experiments are crucial for understanding their physics and their role in the coronal heating processes.