Derivation of Instrument Requirements for Polarimetry using Mg, Fe, and Mn lines between 250 and 290 nm

Judge et al. (2021) recently argued that a region of the solar spectrum in the near-UV between about 250 and 290 nm is optimal for studying magnetism in the solar chromosphere due to an abundance of Mg II, Fe II, and Fe I lines that sample various heights in the solar atmosphere. In this paper we derive requirements for spectropolarimetric instruments to observe these lines. We derive a relationship between the desired sensitivity to magnetic field and the signal-to-noise of the measurement from the weak-field approximation of the Zeeman effect. We find that many lines will exhibit observable polarization signals for both longitudinal and transverse magnetic field with reasonable amplitudes

Scales of the magnetic fields in the quiet Sun

Context: The presence of a turbulent magnetic field in the quiet Sun has been unveiled observationally using different techniques. The magnetic field is quasi-isotropic and has field strengths weaker than 100G. It is pervasive and may host a local dynamo. Aims: We aim to determine the length scale of the turbulent magnetic field in the quiet Sun. Methods: The Stokes V area asymmetry is sensitive to minute variations in the magnetic topology along the line of sight. Using data provided by Hinode-SOT/SP instrument, we performed a statistical study of this quantity.We classified the different magnetic regimes and infer properties of the turbulent magnetic regime. In particular we measured the correlation length associated to these fields for the first time. Results: The histograms of Stokes V area asymmetries reveal three different regimes: one organized, quasi-vertical and strong field (flux tubes or other structures of the like); a strongly asymmetric group of profiles found around field concentrations; and a turbulent isotropic field. For the last, we confirm its isotropy and measure correlation lengths from hundreds of kilometers down to 10km, at which point we lost sensitivity. A crude attempt to measure the power spectra of these turbulent fields is made. Conclusions: In addition to confirming the existence of a turbulent field in the quiet Sun, we give further prove of its isotropy.We also measure correlation lengths down to 10km. The combined results show magnetic fields with a large span of length scales, as expected from a turbulent cascade.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in A&

Characterization of horizontal flows around solar pores from high-resolution time series of images

Though there is increasing evidence linking the moat flow and the Evershed flow along the penumbral filaments, there is not a clear consensus regarding the existence of a moat flow around umbral cores and pores, and the debate is still open. Solar pores appear to be a suitable scenario to test the moat-penumbra relation as evidencing the direct interaction between the umbra and the convective plasma in the surrounding photosphere, without any intermediate structure in between. The present work studies solar pores based on high resolution ground-based and satellite observations. Local correlation tracking techniques have been applied to different-duration time series to analyze the horizontal flows around several solar pores. Our results establish that the flows calculated from different solar pore observations are coherent among each other and show the determinant and overall influence of exploding events in the granulation around the pores. We do not find any sign of moat-like flows surrounding solar pores but a clearly defined region of inflows surrounding them. The connection between moat flows and flows associated to penumbral filaments is hereby reinforced by this work.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Analysis of a Fragmenting Sunspot using Hinode Observations

We employ high resolution filtergrams and polarimetric measurements from Hinode to follow the evolution of a sunspot for eight days starting on June 28, 2007. The imaging data were corrected for intensity gradients, projection effects, and instrumental stray light prior to the analysis. The observations show the formation of a light bridge at one corner of the sunspot by a slow intrusion of neighbouring penumbral filaments. This divided the umbra into two individual umbral cores. During the light bridge formation, there was a steep increase in its intensity from 0.28 to 0.7 I_QS in nearly 4 hr, followed by a gradual increase to quiet Sun (QS) values in 13 hr. This increase in intensity was accompanied by a large reduction in the field strength from 1800 G to 300 G. The smaller umbral core gradually broke away from the parent sunspot nearly 2 days after the formation of the light bridge rendering the parent spot without a penumbra at the location of fragmentation. The penumbra in the fragment disappeared first within 34 hr, followed by the fragment whose area decayed exponentially with a time constant of 22 hr. The depleted penumbra in the parent sunspot regenerated when the inclination of the magnetic field at the penumbra-QS boundary became within 40 deg. from being completely horizontal and this occurred near the end of the fragment's lifetime. After the disappearance of the fragment, another light bridge formed in the parent which had similar properties as the fragmenting one, but did not divide the sunspot. The significant weakening in field strength in the light bridge along with the presence of granulation is suggestive of strong convection in the sunspot which might have triggered the expulsion and fragmentation of the smaller spot. Although the presence of QS photospheric conditions in sunspot umbrae could be a necessary condition for fragmentation, it is not a sufficient one.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 15 pages, 15 figures, 1 tabl

Study of single-lobed circular polarization profiles in the quiet Sun

The existence of asymmetries in the circular polarization (Stokes V) profiles emerging from the solar photosphere is known since the 1970s. These profiles require the presence of a velocity gradient along the line of sight, possibly associated with gradients of magnetic field strength, inclination and/or azimuth. We have focused our study on the Stokes V profiles showing extreme asymmetry in the from of only one lobe. Using Hinode spectropolarimetric measurements we have performed a statistical study of the properties of these profiles in the quiet sun. We show their spatial distribution, their main physical properties, how they are related with several physical observables and their behavior with respect to their position on the solar disk. The single lobed Stokes V profiles occupy roughly 2% of the solar surface. For the first time, we have observed their temporal evolution and have retrieved the physical conditions of the atmospheres from which they emerged using an inversion code implementing discontinuities of the atmospheric parameters along the line of sight. In addition, we use synthetic Stokes profiles from 3D magnetoconvection simulations to complement the results of the inversion. The main features of the synthetic single-lobed profiles are in general agreement with the observed ones, lending support to the magnetic and dynamic topologies inferred from the inversion. The combination of all these different analysis suggests that most of the single-lobed Stokes V profiles are signals coming from magnetic flux emergence and/or submergence processes taking place in small patches in the photospheric of the quiet sun.Comment: 21 pages, 26 figures, 1 tabl

Spectropolarimetery of umbral fine structures from Hinode: Evidence for magnetoconvection

We present spectropolarimetric analysis of umbral dots and a light bridge fragment that show dark lanes in G-band images. Umbral dots show upflow as well as associated positive Stokes V area asymmetry in their central parts. Larger umbral dots show down flow patches in their surrounding parts that are associated with negative Stokes V area asymmetry. Umbral dots show weaker magnetic field in central part and higher magnetic field in peripheral area. Umbral fine structures are much better visible in total circularly polarized light than in continuum intensity. Umbral dots show a temperature deficit above dark lanes. The magnetic field inclination show a cusp structure above umbral dots and a light bridge fragment. We compare our observational findings with 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 6 pages, 6 figure

Theoretical Models of Sunspot Structure and Dynamics

Recent progress in theoretical modeling of a sunspot is reviewed. The observed properties of umbral dots are well reproduced by realistic simulations of magnetoconvection in a vertical, monolithic magnetic field. To understand the penumbra, it is useful to distinguish between the inner penumbra, dominated by bright filaments containing slender dark cores, and the outer penumbra, made up of dark and bright filaments of comparable width with corresponding magnetic fields differing in inclination by some 30 degrees and strong Evershed flows in the dark filaments along nearly horizontal or downward-plunging magnetic fields. The role of magnetic flux pumping in submerging magnetic flux in the outer penumbra is examined through numerical experiments, and different geometric models of the penumbral magnetic field are discussed in the light of high-resolution observations. Recent, realistic numerical MHD simulations of an entire sunspot have succeeded in reproducing the salient features of the convective pattern in the umbra and the inner penumbra. The siphon-flow mechanism still provides the best explanation of the Evershed flow, particularly in the outer penumbra where it often consists of cool, supersonic downflows.Comment: 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, Heidelberg, Berlin, 200

Models and Observations of Sunspot Penumbrae

The mysteries of sunspot penumbrae have been under an intense scrutiny for the past 10 years. During this time, some models have been proposed and refuted, while the surviving ones had to be modified, adapted and evolved to explain the ever-increasing array of observational constraints. In this contribution I will review two of the present models, emphasizing their contributions to this field, but also pinpointing some of their inadequacies to explain a number of recent observations at very high spatial resolution. To help explaining these new observations I propose some modifications to each of them. These modifications bring those two seemingly opposite models closer together into a general picture that agrees well with recent 3D magneto-hydrodynamic simulations.Comment: 9 pages, 1 color figure. Review talk to appear in the proceedings of the International Workshop of 2008 Solar Total Eclipse: Solar Magnetism, Corona and Space Weather--Chinese Space Solar Telescope Scienc