Coupled Alfven and kink oscillations in an inhomogeneous corona

We perform 3D numerical simulations of footpoint-driven transverse waves propagating in a low β plasma. The presence of inhomogeneities in the density profile leads to the coupling of the driven kink mode to Alfven modes by resonant absorption. The decay of the propagating kink wave as energy is transferred to the local Alfven mode is in good agreement with a modified interpretation of the analytical expression derived for standing kink modes. This coupling may account for the damping of transverse velocity perturbation waves which have recently been observed to be ubiquitous in the solar corona.