Signatures of running penumbral waves in sunspot photospheres

Context. The highly dynamic atmosphere above sunspots exhibits a wealth of magnetohydrodynamic waves. Recent studies suggest a coupled nature of the most prominent phenomena: umbral flashes and running penumbral waves (RPWs). Aims. From an observational point of view, we perform a height-dependent study of RPWs, compare their wave characteristics, and aim to track down these so far only chromospherically observed phenomena to photospheric layers to prove the upward propagating field-guided nature of RPWs. Methods. We analyze a time series (58 min) of multiwavelength observations of an isolated circular sunspot (NOAA11823) taken at high spatial and temporal resolution in spectroscopic mode with the Interferometric BIdimensional Spectro-polarimeter (IBIS/DST). By means of a multilayer intensity sampling, velocity comparisons, wavelet power analysis, and sectorial studies of time slices, we retrieve the power distribution, characteristic periodicities, and propagation characteristics of sunspot waves at photospheric and chromospheric levels. Results. Signatures of RPWs are found at photospheric layers. Those continuous oscillations occur preferably at periods between 4–6 min starting at the inner penumbral boundary. The photospheric oscillations all have a slightly delayed, more defined chromospheric counterpart with larger relative velocities, which are linked to preceding umbral flash events. In all of the layers, the power of RPWs follows a filamentary fine-structure and shows a typical ring-shaped power distribution increasing in radius for larger wave periods. The analysis of time slices reveals apparent horizontal velocities for RPWs at photospheric layers of ≈51 km s-1, which decrease to ≈37 km s-1 at chromospheric heights. Conclusions. The observations strongly support the scenario of RPWs being upward propagating slow-mode waves guided by the magnetic field lines. Clear evidence for RPWs at photospheric layers is given. The inverse proportionality of the peak period and cut-off period on the field inclination is supported by the observations. The larger apparent horizontal velocities at photospheric heights hint at the more horizontal penumbral field inclination.