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The majority of studies on multi-scale vortex motions employ a two-dimensional geometry by using a variety of observational and numerical data. This approach limits the understanding the nature of physical processes responsible for vortex dynamics. Here, we develop a new methodology to extract essential information from the boundary surface of vortex tubes. 3D high-resolution magneto-convection MURaM numerical data has been used to analyze photospheric intergranular velocity vortices. The Lagrangian averaged vorticity deviation technique was applied to define the centers of vortex structures and their boundary surfaces based on the advection of fluid elements. These surfaces were mapped onto a constructed envelope grid that allows the study of the key plasma parameters as functions of space and time. Quantities that help in understanding the dynamics of the plasma, e.g., Lorentz force, pressure force, and plasma- β were also determined. Our results suggest that, while density and pressure have a rather global behavior, the other physical quantities undergo local changes, with their magnitude and orientation changing in space and time. At the surface, the mixing in the horizontal direction is not efficient, leading to appearance of localized regions with higher/colder temperatures. In addition, the analysis of the MHD Poynting flux confirms that the majority of the energy is directed in the horizontal direction. Our findings also indicate that the pressure and magnetic forces that drive the dynamics of the plasma on vortex surfaces are unbalanced and therefore the vortices do not rotate as a rigid body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct propagation of acoustic waves, driven harmonically at the solar photosphere, into the three-dimensional solar atmosphere is examined numerically in the framework of ideal magnetohydrodynamics. It is of particular interest to study the leakage of 5-minute global solar acoustic oscillations into the upper, gravitationally stratified and magnetised atmosphere, where the modelled solar atmosphere possesses realistic temperature and density stratification. This work aims to complement and bring further into the 3D domain our previous efforts (by Erdélyi et al., , Astron. Astrophys. 467, 1299) on the leakage of photospheric motions and running magnetic-field-aligned waves excited by these global oscillations. The constructed model atmosphere, most suitable perhaps for quiet Sun regions, is a VAL IIIC derivative in which a uniform magnetic field is embedded. The response of the atmosphere to a range of periodic velocity drivers is numerically investigated in the hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic approximations. Among others the following results are discussed in detail: i) High-frequency waves are shown to propagate from the lower atmosphere across the transition region, experiencing relatively low reflection, and transmitting most of their energy into the corona; ii) the thin transition region becomes a wave guide for horizontally propagating surface waves for a wide range of driver periods, and particularly at those periods that support chromospheric standing waves; iii) the magnetic field acts as a waveguide for both high- and low-frequency waves originating from the photosphere and propagating through the transition region into the solar corona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]