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We present the formation of quasi-periodic cool spicule-like jets in the solar atmosphere using 2.5-D numerical simulation in two-fluid regime (ions+neutrals) under the presence of thermal conduction and ion-neutral collision. The nonlinear, impulsive Alfvénic perturbations at the top of the photosphere trigger field aligned magnetoacoustic perturbations due to ponderomotive force. The transport of energy from Alfvén pulse to such vertical velocity perturbations due to ponderomotive force is considered as an initial trigger mechanism. Thereafter, these velocity perturbations steepen into the shocks followed by quasi-periodic rise and fall of the cool jets transporting mass in the overlying corona. This article is part of the theme issue 'Partially ionized plasma of the solar atmosphere: recent advances and future pathways'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistically, the cool loop's footpoints are diagnosed using Si  iv resonance lines observations provided by Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). The intensity and full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the loop's footpoints in β–γ active regions (ARs) are higher than the corresponding parameters of footpoints in β ARs. However, the Doppler velocity of footpoints in both ARs are almost similar to each other. The intensities of footpoints from β–γ AR is found to be around nine times that of β AR when both ARs are observed nearly at the same time. The same intensity difference reduces nearly to half (four times) when considering all ARs observed over 9 yr. Hence, the instrument degradation affects comparative intensity analysis. We find that Doppler velocity and FWHM are well correlated while peak intensity is neither correlated with Doppler velocity nor FWHM. The loop's footpoints in β–γ ARs have around four times more complex Si  iv spectral profiles than that of β ARs. The intensity ratios (Si  iv 1393.78 Å/1402.77 Å) of the significant locations of footpoints differ, marginally, (i.e. either less than 1.9 or greater than 2.10) from the theoretical ratio of 2, i.e. 52 per cent (55 per cent) locations in β (β–γ) ARs significantly deviate from 2. Hence, we say that more than half of the footpoint locations are either affected by the opacity or resonance scattering. We conclude that the nature and attributes of the footpoints of the cool loops in β–γ ARs are significantly different from those in β ARs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various aspects of the solar sail spacecraft such as solar sailing, solar sail design, navigation with solar sails, solar sail mission applications and future prospects for solar sailing are described. Several possible student projects are suggested. (KR)

We perform a 2.5D magnetohydrodynamic simulation to gain a comprehensive understanding of the formation of spicule-like cool jets caused by initial transverse velocity pulses akin to Alfvén pulses in the solar chromosphere. We invoke multiple velocity (Vz) pulses between 1.5 and 2.0 Mm in the solar atmosphere, which create the initial transverse velocity perturbations. These pulses transfer energy non-linearly to the field-aligned perturbations via the ponderomotive force. This physical process further creates magnetoacoustic shocks followed by quasi-periodic plasma motions in the solar atmosphere. The field-aligned magnetoacoustic shocks move upwards, which subsequently causes the quasi-periodic rise and fall of chromospheric plasma into the overlying corona as thin and cool spicule-like jets. The magnitude of the initial applied transverse velocity pulses is taken in the range of 50–90 km s−1. These pulses are found to be strong enough to generate spicule-like jets. We analyse the evolution, kinematics and energetics of these spicule-like jets. We find that the transported mass flux and kinetic energy density are substantial in the local solar corona. These mass motions generate in situ quasi-periodic oscillations on the scale of ≃ 4.0 min above the transition region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]