Spatially Coherent and Intermittent Alfvénic Fluctuations in Solar Polar Spicules

Abstract

Alfvénic fluctuations are considered a key mechanism for transporting energy from the lower solar atmosphere into the corona, with spicules acting as dynamic conduits for this transfer. We investigate transverse and Doppler velocity fluctuations in quiet-Sun polar spicules observed in the Si IV 1394\,Å line by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. Fourier analysis in time and space is used to characterize power across frequency and spatial scales. The temporal power spectra show broadband fluctuations with enhanced power in the 3--7~mHz range and a peak near 4--6~mHz. Spatial Fourier analysis of Doppler velocities reveals a perpendicular power spectrum scaling as $\sim k_{\perp}^{-1.43}$, slightly shallower than the canonical $-5/3$ and $-3/2$ slopes of strong MHD turbulence, but consistent with reflection-driven turbulence simulations. Velocity increment PDFs show non-Gaussian behavior, with kurtosis increasing toward smaller scales, consistent with intermittency. Spatial coherence analysis using cross-correlation and spectral diagnostics indicates an outer scale of a few hundred to about a thousand kilometres, with cross-correlation yielding smaller values. These results provide observational evidence that polar spicules host multiscale Alfvénic fluctuations consistent with a developing turbulent cascade and intermittency, suggesting a role in energy transport into the solar corona.