On fine structure of the magnetic field and brightness in the penumbrae of sunspots

From investigating spectrograms of penumbrae of some sunspots it is concluded that the maximum magnetic field strength occurs in dark filaments and amounts to 1800–1900 G; the intensity of the magnetic field in dark filaments is 100–400 G larger than in the neighbouring bright filaments; the bright filaments seen in the space between the dark features cannot be attributed to the ordinary undisturbed photosphere.     

The fine structure of light-bridges in sunspots

High resolution photographs obtained at the Pic du Midi Observatory show that there are three types of sunspot light bridges according to their morphological structures: the photospheric ones, the penumbral ones and the umbral ones. Consequently there are no specific structures in light bridges; it results that they should not be due to specific physical properties. Properties of the fine structure of a penumbral light bridge are described.     

Vector magnetic fields in sunspots

Observations of a round, unipolar sunspot in the Zeeman triplet Fe i 6302.5 with the High Altitude Observatory Stokes Polarimeter are used to derive the vector magnetic field in the spot. The behavior of the magnitude, inclination, and azimuth of the field vector B across the spot is discussed. A linear relation is found between the continuum intensity I _c and the field magnitude B. Time series obtained in the umbra show significant power in the magnitude of the field at a period of t 180 s but the other components of the field vector do not display this behavior.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Monochromatic images in stokes parameters and the structure of magnetic fields in sunspots

Taking into account magneto-optical effects, we have obtained numerical solutions of the transfer equations for the Stokes parameters, calculated the linearly polarized intensity (U) and constructed its monochromatic images of unipolar sunspots. By comparison with the observational material of the vector magnetograph of the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville (Alabama), we have found that the model of radial magnetic fields may give rise to U monochromatic images close to those observed. The same conclusion has been obtained previously by Landi Degl'Innocenti (1979), although his analysis was performed with the Milne-Eddington approximation instead of a detailed sunspot model. Moreover, we have shown that the model of spiral magnetic fields leads to results in contrast with observations.     

The crossover effect in sunspots and the fine structure of penumbra

The peculiarities of magnetosensitive lines in the penumbral spectrum and the abnormal distribution of circular polarization in them are explained satisfactorily in terms of superposition of radiation originating in different elements of penumbral fine structure. Complicated asymmetric rv ^– contours can be represented as a sum of two components related to bright (BR) and dark (DR) penumbral regions. Crossover effect in sunspot penumbra appears, when there is considerable relative radial mass velocity in BR and DR, having the magnetic field of different polarities in them. Such conditions are supposed to exist in the penumbra of some sunspots, situated close to the solar limb.     

Monochromatic images of sunspots in linearly polarized radiation and the structure of their magnetic fields

When unipolar sunspots are observed in the linearly polarized radiation represented by the Stokes parametersQ andU of magneto-sensitive spectral lines, their images display a complicated and interesting configuration. This is caused by the magneto-optical effect and also is connected with the 3-D structure of spot magnetic fields. In the process of numerical simulation it is possible to infer the regularity of variation of the angle of inclination of magnetic lines of force with distance from the spot center.     

Temporal fluctuations of the magnetic field in sunspots

The magnetic field strength in sunspots was derived from time series of two-dimensional spectra taken with the Göttingen 2D-spectrometer at the Vacuum Tower Telescope on Tenerife in August 1997. For the present measurements the magnetically sensitive line Fe?i 684.3 nm was selected. The main spot of the investigated sunspot group has a maximum magnetic field strength of 2270 G. Enhanced power of the magnetic field variations was found at the boundary between umbra and penumbra for all frequency ranges. These fluctuations are not well correlated with those of intensity variations or line shifts. Other spatial power peaks occur in a dark patch inside the centreside penumbra and at the centres of some accompanying small spots. Since no clear peaks at certain frequencies are found, the variations are not harmonic oscillations. A possible relation to Hα flares is investigated. There are several cases of published observations of magnetic field variations where flares occurred soon after the measurements, but very little before. Therefore it is not very probable that flares act as exciters of magnetic field variations.

     

The east-west inclination of magnetic field lines in sunspots

Digitized Mount Wilson sunspot data covering the interval from 1917 to 1985 are analyzed to examine the average areas of individual sunspot umbrae over small zones of central meridian distance. Assuming that systematic, east-west differences in these quantities are due to the inclination of the magnetic fields of the spots, one can calculate average east-west inclination angles for all spots and for subsets of the full data set. It is found from such an analysis that on average spot fields are inclined such as to trail the rotation by a few deg. Leading and following spots may show a tendency to be inclined slightly away from each other, in contrast to the results of an earlier study of plage magnetic fields. Growing spots tend to be inclined much more to the east than decaying spots. This is in the opposite sense to the analogous result derived from plage magnetic fields.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under Cooperative Agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Temporal variations of the magnetic field in sunspots

We obtained simultaneous spectra with a spatial resolution of 1/2 and a temporal resolution of 15 s in H, Ca ii-K, Caii 8542 Å, and three Fei lines of the sunspot group responsible for the large flares of August, 1972 (McMath No. 11976). A time series taken 1972, August 3 in the Fei 6173 Å Zeeman sensitive line was analyzed for oscillations of field strength and the angle between the field and the line of sight, and for changes of the field associated with the Ca ii-K umbral flashes discovered by Beckers and Tallant (1969). The power spectra show no significant peaks, conflicting with the results of Mogilevskii et al. (1972) who reported oscillations in the longitudinal component of the field strength with periods of 56, 90, and 150 s. Changes in the field were not observed to be correlated with the occurrence of umbral flashes. These results place restrictions on magnetic modes of energy transport between the photospheric layers and the chromospheric layers where the umbral flashes are observed.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

On magnetic field gradients in sunspots

This paper is devoted mainly to a method of determining the gradient of magnetic fields. Utilizing the numerical solution of the equations of transfer of the Stokes parameters, we have calculated quantities characterizing the asymmetry and the amount of rotation of the wings of the “o” and “e” profiles of the magnetically sensitive line Fe Iλ 6302.499 as functions of the magnetic field gradient. The results of calculations have been verified with our own spectrophotometric observations of a large sunspot. The range of validity of the method is discussed, and the possible influence of the presence of magnetic field gradients on the observational data of magnetographs is investigated.     

The topology of force-free magnetic field near bipolar sunspots

The topological character of a new type of solution representing a force-free magnetic field near bipolar sunspots is examined. It is shown that some of the observed topological features of chromospheric fibrils and filaments in H can be interpreted in terms of the configuration of the magnetic lines of force of the present solution. In particular, by the examples considered the observed twisted S-shape topology of lower lying fibrils and the orientation of prominences (higher filaments) associated with sunspots are successfully reproduced.Visiting scientist at the High Altitude Observatory.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

The measurement of magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere above sunspots using gyroresonance emission

An analysis of the local sources (LS) structure of the S-component of solar radio emission confirms the presence of a core component which is characterized by strong circular polarization and a steep growing spectrum at shorter centimeter wavelengths. These details coincide in position with the sunspots' umbra and their height above the photosphere does not generally exceed about 2000 km. Gyroresonance emission of thermal electrons of the corona is generally accepted as being responsible for this type of emission. The spectral and polarization observations of LS made with RATAN-600 using high resolution in the wavelength range 2.0–4.0 cm, allow us to measure the maximum magnetic fields of the corresponding sunspots at the height of the chromosphere-corona transition region (CCTR). This method is based on determining the short wavelength limit of gyroresonance emission of the LS and relating it to the third harmonic of gyrofrequency.An analysis of a large number of sunspots and their LS (core component) has shown a good correlation between radio magnetic fields near the CCTR and optical photospheric ones. The magnetic field in CCTR above a sunspot is found only 10 to 20% lower than in the photosphere. The resulting gradient of the field strength is not less than 0.25 G km^–1. This result seems to contradict the lower values of magnetic fields generally found above sunspots using the chromospheric H line. Some possible ways of overcoming this difficulty are proposed.     

Mangeto-optical effects in sunspots and their vector magnetic field

The system of transfer equations of the four Stokes parameters I, Q, U, V under the action of the magneto-optical effect (i.e. the Unno-Beckers equations) are numerically solved in this paper for the magneto-sensitive lines FeI λλ 6302.499 and 5324.191 using an appropriate sunspot model. The errors in the expressions for the coefficients _r and _W in Beckers' paper [2] have been corrected for. From the results of calculations, features of the profiles of the Stokes parameters dependent on the magnetic vector have been isolated. Our computations also show that the magneto-optical effect should be taken into consideration in the measurement of the vector magnetic fields.

In the fourth section of this paper we have established a simple and convenient method for obtaining-information on the magnetic vector (including the field strength B, its inclination to the line of sight γ and its azimuth χ) from the profiles of the Stokes parameters. It consists of three steps: (1) The value of B is determined from the distance of the highest point in the V-profile from the central line. (2) γ is then found from V_max, i.e maximum value of V. (3) Lastly, the angle χ is found from Q₀, i.e. the value of Q at line centre.     

On the magnetic fields and motions in sunspots at different atmospheric levels

The distribution of the magnetic field and radial velocities in the sunspot group were investigated simultaneously at two atmospheric levels (H and 6302.499 Å) of the Sun inside the area of 35 × 80 photographically (Abdussamatov, 1970) using the method of escalation. The outward motion of matter in the spot umbra was detected.Distributions of the magnetic field at both levels are well correlated. The magnetic field motions are observed in the sunspot. The vertical gradient H decreases slightly in the direction of increasing H. The minimum of brightness I in sunspots corresponds to the maximum of H.     

Multiple flows and the fine structure of the transition region around sunspots

The fine structure in the flow field in the transition region above and surrounding a sunspot is determined fromCIV 1548 line profiles, observed with the High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (HRTS) during the Spacelab 2 mission. The observed line profiles show one, two, or three distinct velocity components within the resolution element of 1 × 1. Supersonic flows occur in small regions where the line profile has two or three components. The line component that shows supersonic speed often is weaker than the subsonic line component, which may explain why some observers have been unable to detect the supersonic flow component. The broadening of individual line components shows non-thermal velocities close to 20 km s^–1. This suggests that turbulence is less important than usually considered.The presence of multiple flows, which also occurs in quiet solar regions, suggests that the transition region above sunspots has a sub-arc-second fine structure, perhaps consisting of thin fibrils. The Evershed flow in the transition region appears to have a correspondingly complex character, possibly consisting of sub- and supersonic siphon flows along the individual fibrils. Time changes in the flow field over 5 min may correspond to characteristic times of individual fine structures. Possible explanations of the net downward directed mass flux are presented.     

A relation between magnetic field strength and temperature in sunspots

We present Stokes I Zeeman splitting measurements of sunspots using the highly sensitive (g = 3) Fe i line at = 1.5649 m. The splittings are compared with simultaneous intensity measurements in the adjacent continuum. The relation between magnetic field strength and temperature has a characteristic, nonlinear shape in all the spots studied. In the umbra, there is an approximately linear relation between B ² and T _b, consistent with magnetohydrostatic equilibrium in a nearly vertical field. A distinct flattening of the B ² vs T _brelationship in the inner penumbra may be due to changes in the lateral pressure balance as the magnetic field becomes more horizontal; spatially unresolved intensity inhomogeneities may also influence the observed relation.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

The structure of sunspots

As a first step in constructing three-dimensional decaying sunspot models we select the relevant observational data. From these we conclude:

1. sunspots, except the smallest, obey a radial and evolutionary similarity;
2. sunspots may be considered as isolated, fairly well defined flux tubes, wrapped in thin current sheets;
3. a substantial number among stable regular spots show a phase of slowest decay whose rate is independent of the spot's area.

Arguments are given that the slowest rate of decay is ultimately determined by Ohmic dissipation in the inner part of the current sheet. Preliminary asymptotic models for the deep layers (deeper than 2000 km below the photosphere) are given which satisfy the above three constraints. To meet the observed rate of slowest decay the current sheet has to be very thin, about 10^?5 to 10^?4 times the umbral radius. Radial large-scale fluid motions are required in the current sheet to maintain the similarity of the structure. The radial motions are linked with the vertical motions which may be connected with the Evershed flow. Finally we discuss details which are less relevant in the large-scale structure of stable sunspots, such as fine structures, twists, the break-down of the similarity and the relation between sunspots and smaller magnetic structures, and the intrinsic scatter in some observed quantities.     

The structure of sunspots

Magnetic field strengths in small umbrae and pores are measured using the line Ti i 6064.6 Å, which is formed purely in umbrae. We find field strengths between 1900 and 2600 G in the darkest parts of small umbrae and of well established pores; the spread is partly intrinsic. The field strength in diffuse transient protopores amounts to 1500 ± 250 G.We demonstrate that usage ofthe well-known magnetic line 6173.3 Å and other Fe i lines yield systematically smaller magnetic field strengths than Ti i 6064.6 Å. This is due to blending ofthe components with the central component due to photospheric stray light and the component. Routine measurements are therefore unreliable for small spots 251-01Based on observations at Sacramento Peak Observatory, Sunspot, New Mexico, U.S.A.     

Toroidal magnetic field structure of the solar convective envelope inferred from the initial observations of the sunspots

For different life spans, we measure the line of sight component of the magnetic field structure of the bipolar sunspots from the SOHO/MDI magnetograms during their initial appearance on the surface and toroidal component of the magnetic field structure is separated. Irrespective of their sizes, strength of the measured line of sight component of the magnetic field structure varies from ∼450 G for the life span of 2 days to ∼300 G for the life span of 12 days. Where as strength of the estimated surface toroidal component of the bipolar spots varies from ∼10 G for the life span of 2 days to ∼700 G for the life span of 12 days. We use rederived Parker’s (1955a) flux tube model in spherical coordinates and Hiremath’s (2002) life span anchoring depth information to infer the strength of line of sight and toroidal components of the magnetic field structures at different anchoring depths of the bipolar spots in the convective envelope and the important findings are: (i) both the line of sight and toroidal components of the magnetic field structures at the sites of sunspots’ different anchoring depths in the convective envelope have a similar radial variation and the strength (∼10⁴ G near base of the convective envelope to ∼100 G near the surface) and, (ii) rate of emergence of toroidal magnetic field structure near base of the convective envelope is estimated to be ∼100 times the rate of emergence of toroidal magnetic field structure near the surface.