High-resolution observations and modeling of dynamic fibrils

We present unprecedented high-resolution H alpha observations, obtained with the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope, that, for the first time, spatially and temporally resolve dynamic fibrils in active regions on the Sun. These jetlike features are similar to mottles or spicules in quiet Sun. We find that most of these fibrils follow almost perfect parabolic paths in their ascent and descent. We measure the properties of the parabolic paths taken by 257 fibrils and present an overview of the deceleration, maximum velocity, maximum length, and duration, as well as their widths and the thickness of a bright ring that often occurs above dynamic fibrils. We find that the observed deceleration of the projected path is typically only a fraction of solar gravity and incompatible with a ballistic path at solar gravity. We report on significant differences of fibril properties between those occurring above a dense plage region and those above a less dense plage region where the magnetic field seems more inclined from the vertical. We compare these findings to advanced numerical two-dimensional radiative MHD simulations and find that fibrils are most likely formed by chromospheric shock waves that occur when convective flows and global oscillations leak into the chromosphere along the field lines of magnetic flux concentrations. Detailed comparison of observed and simulated fibril properties shows striking similarities of the values for deceleration, maximum velocity, maximum length, and duration. We compare our results with observations of mottles and find that a similar mechanism is most likely at work in the quiet Sun.