Complex magnetic fields in an active region

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

6

Sun: Magnetic Fields, Flux Tubes, Active Regions, Polarimetry

Scientific paper

High-resolution observations of the full Stokes vector in Fe\sc i spectral lines around 5250 Angstroms obtained at the Swedish Vacuum Solar Telescope on La Palma with the ZIMPOL I Stokes polarimeter in a complex active region reveal the presence of anomalously shaped Stokes profiles indicating the coexistence of at least two magnetic components within the same spatial resolution element. These Stokes profiles have been analyzed with an inversion code based on a 3-component atmospheric model with two magnetic and one field-free component. The fits to the observations in a magnetic region that resembles a small penumbra reveal the presence of a horizontal magnetic field component with an average field strength of /line{B}=840 G, a mean filling factor of /lineα=0.12, and an average temperature /line{T}=5400 K at log {tau_ {5000}}=-1.5 embedded in the main ``penumbral'' magnetic field that has /line{B}=1500 G, /lineα=0.56, and /line{T}=4900 K. The horizontal component exhibits a mean outflow of 2.7 km s(-1) which is mainly due to the Evershed flow. In a region where there are strong downflows up to 7 km s(-1) , we infer the possible presence of a shock front whose height changes along the slit. The height variation can be explained by a change of the gas pressure at the base of the photosphere below the shock front as proposed by Thomas & Montesinos (1991). Small plages with field strengths below 900 G have been observed in the vicinity of some pores. Finally, we present a puzzling field structure at the boundary between two adjacent pores. Ambiguous results suggest that although the inversion code is able to successfully invert even very complex Stokes profiles, we are far from a complete description of the field structure in complex magnetic regions. We warn that magnetograms and fits to data involving only a single magnetic component may hide the true complexity of the magnetic structure in at least some parts of active regions.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Complex magnetic fields in an active region does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Complex magnetic fields in an active region, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Complex magnetic fields in an active region will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1650502

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.