17,344 research outputs found
The Height of Chromospheric Loops in an Emerging Flux Region
Context. The chromospheric layer observable with the He I 10830 {\AA} triplet
is strongly warped. The analysis of the magnetic morphology of this layer
therefore requires a reliable technique to determine the height at which the He
I absorption takes place.
Aims. The He I absorption signature connecting two pores of opposite polarity
in an emerging flux region is investigated. This signature is suggestive of a
loop system connecting the two pores. We aim to show that limits can be set on
the height of this chromospheric loop system.
Methods. The increasing anisotropy in the illumination of a thin, magnetic
structure intensifies the linear polarization signal observed in the He I
triplet with height. This signal is altered by the Hanle effect. We apply an
inversion technique incorporating the joint action of the Hanle and Zeeman
effects, with the absorption layer height being one of the free parameters.
Results. The observed linear polarization signal can be explained only if the
loop apex is higher than \approx5 Mm. Best agreement with the observations is
achieved for a height of 6.3 Mm.
Conclusions. The strength of the linear polarization signal in the loop apex
is inconsistent with the assumption of a He I absorption layer at a constant
height level. The determined height supports the earlier conclusion that dark
He 10830 {\AA} filaments in emerging flux regions trace emerging loops.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Faculty Excellence
Each year, the University of New Hampshire selects a small number of its outstanding faculty for special recognition of their achievements in teaching, scholarship and service. Awards for Excellence in Teaching are given in each college and school, and university-wide awards recognize public service, research, teaching and engagement. This booklet details the year\u27s award winners\u27 accomplishments in short profiles with photographs and text
Faculty Excellence
Each year, the University of New Hampshire selects a small number of its outstanding faculty for special recognition of their achievements in teaching, scholarship and service. Awards for Excellence in Teaching are given in each college and school, and university-wide awards recognize public service, research, teaching and engagement. This booklet details the year\u27s award winners\u27 accomplishments in short profiles with photographs and text
Advanced Forward Modeling and Inversion of Stokes Profiles Resulting from the Joint Action of the Hanle and Zeeman Effects
A big challenge in solar and stellar physics in the coming years will be to
decipher the magnetism of the solar outer atmosphere (chromosphere and corona)
along with its dynamic coupling with the magnetic fields of the underlying
photosphere. To this end, it is important to develop rigorous diagnostic tools
for the physical interpretation of spectropolarimetric observations in suitably
chosen spectral lines. Here we present a computer program for the synthesis and
inversion of Stokes profiles caused by the joint action of atomic level
polarization and the Hanle and Zeeman effects in some spectral lines of
diagnostic interest, such as those of the He I 10830 A and D_3 multiplets. It
is based on the quantum theory of spectral line polarization, which takes into
account all the relevant physical mechanisms and ingredients (optical pumping,
atomic level polarization, Zeeman, Paschen-Back and Hanle effects). The
influence of radiative transfer on the emergent spectral line radiation is
taken into account through a suitable slab model. The user can either calculate
the emergent intensity and polarization for any given magnetic field vector or
infer the dynamical and magnetic properties from the observed Stokes profiles
via an efficient inversion algorithm based on global optimization methods. The
reliability of the forward modeling and inversion code presented here is
demonstrated through several applications, which range from the inference of
the magnetic field vector in solar active regions to determining whether or not
it is canopy-like in quiet chromospheric regions. This user-friendly diagnostic
tool called "HAZEL" (from HAnle and ZEeman Light) is offered to the
astrophysical community, with the hope that it will facilitate new advances in
solar and stellar physics.Comment: 62 pages, 19 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap
Recent Advances in Chromospheric and Coronal Polarization Diagnostics
I review some recent advances in methods to diagnose polarized radiation with
which we may hope to explore the magnetism of the solar chromosphere and
corona. These methods are based on the remarkable signatures that the
radiatively induced quantum coherences produce in the emergent spectral line
polarization and on the joint action of the Hanle and Zeeman effects. Some
applications to spicules, prominences, active region filaments, emerging flux
regions and the quiet chromosphere are discussed.Comment: Review paper to appear in "Magnetic Coupling between the Interior and
the Atmosphere of the Sun", eds. S. S. Hasan and R. J. Rutten, Astrophysics
and Space Science Proceedings, Springer-Verlag, 200
Anomalous circular polarization profiles in the He I 1083.0 nm multiplet from solar spicules
We report Stokes vector observations of solar spicules and a prominence in
the He I 1083 nm multiplet carried out with the Tenerife Infrared Polarimeter.
The observations show linear polarization profiles that are produced by
scattering processes in the presence of a magnetic field. After a careful data
reduction, we demonstrate the existence of extremely asymmetric Stokes V
profiles in the spicular material that we are able to model with two magnetic
components along the line of sight, and under the presence of atomic
orientation in the energy levels that give rise to the multiplet. We discuss
some possible scenarios that can generate the atomic orientation in spicules.
We stress the importance of spectropolarimetric observations across the limb to
distinguish such signals from observational artifacts.Comment: accepted for publication in Ap
The magnetic field configuration of a solar prominence inferred from spectropolarimetric observations in the He I 10830 A triplet
Context: The determination of the magnetic field vector in quiescent solar
prominences is possible by interpreting the Hanle and Zeeman effects in
spectral lines. However, observational measurements are scarce and lack high
spatial resolution. Aims: To determine the magnetic field vector configuration
along a quiescent solar prominence by interpreting spectropolarimetric
measurements in the He I 1083.0 nm triplet obtained with the Tenerife Infrared
Polarimeter installed at the German Vacuum Tower Telescope of the Observatorio
del Teide. Methods. The He I 1083.0 nm triplet Stokes profiles are analyzed
with an inversion code that takes into account the physics responsible of the
polarization signals in this triplet. The results are put into a solar context
with the help of extreme ultraviolet observations taken with the Solar Dynamic
Observatory and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory satellites.
Results: For the most probable magnetic field vector configuration, the
analysis depicts a mean field strength of 7 gauss. We do not find local
variations in the field strength except that the field is, in average, lower in
the prominence body than in the prominence feet, where the field strength
reaches 25 gauss. The averaged magnetic field inclination with respect to the
local vertical is 77 degrees. The acute angle of the magnetic field vector with
the prominence main axis is 24 degrees for the sinistral chirality case and 58
degrees for the dextral chirality. These inferences are in rough agreement with
previous results obtained from the analysis of data acquired with lower spatial
resolutions.Comment: Accepted in A&
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