Coupled Alfvén and Kink Oscillations in Coronal Loops

Observations have revealed ubiquitous transverse velocity perturbation waves propagating in the solar corona. However, there is ongoing discussion regarding their interpretation as kink or Alfvén waves. To investigate the nature of transverse waves propagating in the solar corona and their potential for use as a coronal diagnostic in MHD seismology, we perform three-dimensional numerical simulations of footpoint-driven transverse waves propagating in a low β plasma. We consider the cases of both a uniform medium and one with loop-like density structure and perform a parametric study for our structuring parameters. When density structuring is present, resonant absorption in inhomogeneous layers leads to the coupling of the kink mode to the Alfvén mode. The decay of the propagating kink wave as energy is transferred to the local Alfvén mode is in good agreement with a modified interpretation of the analysis of Ruderman & Roberts for standing kink modes. Numerical simulations support the most general interpretation of the observed loop oscillations as a coupling of the kink and Alfvén modes. This coupling may account for the observed predominance of outward wave power in longer coronal loops since the observed damping length is comparable to our estimate based on an assumption of resonant absorption as the damping mechanism.