Mzerguat, Slimane, Janvier, Miho, Buchlin, Éric, Baker, Deborah, To, Andy, Long, David M.
ORCID: 0000-0003-3137-0277 and Prado, Natalia Zambrana
(2026)
Sulfur fractionation in coronal plumes as observed by Solar Orbiter/Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment.
Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 384
(2323).
p. 20250253.
ISSN 1364-503X
Abstract
Coronal plumes are bright, narrow structures rooted in coronal holes that contribute to the solar wind. Their composition, particularly elemental fractionation as a function of first ionization potential (FIP), provides diagnostics of plasma properties and magnetic connectivity. Earlier plume studies of fractionation using low-FIP elements reached
conflicting conclusions. Intermediate-FIP elements may provide additional diagnostic insight, since their fractionation is thought to involve processes beyond those affecting low-FIP species. We investigate sulfur (intermediate-FIP element) in plumes to assess the presence
of fractionation, its evolution, and its relation to wave activity. We analyzed Solar Orbiter observations of two plumes in an equatorial coronal hole during March–April 2024, using Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) to derive the sulfur-to-nitrogen ratio. EUV imaging and magnetograms provided additional context. Data were processed with the open-source Python tool Spectral Analysis Fitting Framework and Reduction of Noise (SAFFRON). Both plumes showed sulfur fractionation that remained constant within uncertainties. The fractionated plasma was co-located with strong magnetic footpoints, in
contrast with the surrounding interplume plasma. These results provide the evidence for sulfur fractionation in plumes and suggest, consistent with the ponderomotive force model, wave dynamics in the chromosphere as a driver.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (Published) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Solar composition, FIP bias, coronal plumes, Alfvén Waves, Solar Orbiter/SPICE |
| Subjects: | Physical Sciences > Astronomy Physical Sciences > Astronomy > Astrophysics |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Physical Sciences |
| Publisher: | The Royal Society Publishing |
| Official URL: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsta/article/38... |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 33318 |
| Deposited On: | 15 Sep 2026 13:45 by David Long . Last Modified 15 Sep 2026 13:45 |
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