Instrument and data analysis challenges for imaging spectropolarimetry

The next generation of solar telescopes will enable us to resolve the fundamental scales of the solar atmosphere, i.e., the pressure scale height and the photon mean free path. High‐resolution observations of small‐scale structures with sizes down to 50 km require complex post‐focus instruments, which employ adaptive optics (AO) and benefit from advanced image restoration techniques. The GREGOR Fabry‐Pérot Interferometer (GFPI) will serve as an example of such an instrument to illustrate the challenges that are to be expected in instrumentation and data analysis with the next generation of solar telescopes (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photospheric magnetic field rotation: Rigid and differential

An autocorrelation of the direction of the large-scale photospheric magnetic field observed during 1959–1967 has yielded evidence that the field structure at some heliographic latitudes can display both differential rotation and rigid rotation properties.     

3D: The new MPE near-infrared field imaging spectrometer

3D, the next-generation near-IR spectrometer developed at the MPE, produces in a single integration, a datacube of a 8×8 field characterised by 0.5 resolution in image space and a resolving power of R=1000 over the entire K-band in wavelength space.A detailed account of this work, including results of the first test measurements, will be presented elsewhere (Weitzel et al., in preparation).     

Long slit spectropolarimetry of Jupiter and Saturn

We present ground-based limb polarization measurements of Jupiter and Saturn consisting of full disk imaging polarimetry for the wavelength 7300 Å and spatially resolved (long-slit) spectropolarimetry covering the wavelength range 5200-9350 Å.For the polar region of Jupiter we find for λ = 6000 Å a very strong radial (perpendicular to the limb) fractional polarization with a seeing corrected maximum of about +11.5% in the South and +10.0% in the North. This indicates that the polarizing haze layer is thicker at the South pole. The polar haze layers extend down to 58° in latitude. The derived polarization values are much higher than reported in previous studies because of the better spatial resolution of our data and an appropriate consideration of the atmospheric seeing. Model calculations demonstrate that the high limb polarization can be explained by strongly polarizing (p ≈ 1.0), high albedo (ω ≈ 0.98) haze particles with a scattering asymmetry parameter of g ≈ 0.6 as expected for aggregate particles of the type described by West and Smith (West, R.A., Smith, P.H. [1991]. Icarus 90, 330-333). The deduced particle parameters are distinctively different when compared to lower latitude regions.The spectropolarimetry of Jupiter shows a decrease in the polar limb polarization towards longer wavelengths and a significantly enhanced polarization in strong methane bands when compared to the adjacent continuum. This is a natural outcome for a highly polarizing haze layer above an atmosphere where multiple scatterings are suppressed in absorption bands. For lower latitudes the fractional polarization is small, negative, and it depends only little on wavelength except for the strong CH₄-band at 8870 Å.The South pole of Saturn shows a lower polarization (p ≈ 1.0-1.5%) than the poles of Jupiter. The spectropolarimetric signal for Saturn decrease rapidly with wavelength and shows no significant enhancements in the fractional polarization in the absorption bands. These properties can be explained by a vertically extended stratospheric haze region composed of small particles <100 nm as suggested previously by Karkoschka and Tomasko (Karkoschka, E., Tomasko, M. [2005]. Icarus 179, 195-221).In addition we find in the V- and R-band a previously not observed strong polarization feature (p = 1.5-2.0%) near the equator of Saturn. The origin of this polarization signal is unclear but it could be related to a seasonal effect.Finally we discuss the potential of ground-based limb polarization measurements for the investigation of the scattering particles in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn.     

3‐D hydrodynamic simulations of the solar chromosphere

We present first results of three‐dimensional numerical simulations of the non‐magnetic solar chromosphere, computed with the radiation hydrodynamics code CO⁵BOLD. Acoustic waves which are excited at the top of the convection zone propagate upwards into the chromosphere where the waves steepen into shocks. The interaction of the waves leads to the formation of complex structures which evolve on short time scales. Consequently, the model chromosphere is highly dynamical, inhomogeneous, and thermally bifurcated.     

Photospheric and Chromospheric Activity Associated with 3B Flare of February 27, 1992

We have analyzed the H filtergrams and vector magnetograms of the active region NOAA 7070, in which a 3B/X3.3 flare occurred on February 27, 1992. The average area per sunspot of this active region was in declining phase at the time of the flare. The vector magnetograms indicate that the magnetic field was non-potential at the flaring site. Besides non-potentiality, the longitudinal field gradient was found to be the highest at the region showing initial H brightening. Further, in H filtergrams no appreciable change in the morphology of the filament tracing the magnetic neutral line was noticed in the post-flare stage. Also, the photospheric vector magnetograms show considerable shear in post-flare magnetic field of the active region. In this paper we present the observations and discuss the possible mechanism responsible for the 3B/X3.3 flare.     

Photospheric Injection of Magnetic Helicity: Connectivity-Based Flux Density Method

Magnetic helicity quantifies the degree to which the magnetic field in a volume is globally sheared and/or twisted. This quantity is believed to play a key role in solar activity due to its conservation property. Helicity is continuously injected into the corona during the evolution of active regions (ARs). To better understand and quantify the role of magnetic helicity in solar activity, the distribution of magnetic helicity flux in ARs needs to be studied. The helicity distribution can be computed from the temporal evolution of photospheric magnetograms of ARs such as the ones provided by SDO/HMI and Hinode/SOT. Most recent analyses of photospheric helicity flux derived a proxy to the helicity-flux density based on the relative rotation rate of photospheric magnetic footpoints. Although this proxy allows a good estimate of the photospheric helicity flux, it is still not a true helicity flux density because it does not take into account the connectivity of the magnetic field lines. For the first time, we implement a helicity density that takes this connectivity into account. To use it for future observational studies, we tested the method and its precision on several types of models involving different patterns of helicity injection. We also tested it on more complex configurations – from magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations – containing quasi-separatrix layers. We demonstrate that this connectivity-based proxy is best-suited to map the true distribution of photospheric helicity injection.     

Bounds on the stability of 3D magnetic equilibria in the solar corona

A necessary and a sufficient condition are derived for the ideal magnetohydrodynamic stability of any 3D magnetohydrostatic equilibrium using the energy method and incorporating photospheric line-tying. The theory is demonstrated by application to a simple class of theoretical 3D equilibria. The main thrust of the method is the formulation of the stability conditions as two sets of ordinary differential equations together with appropriate boundary conditions which may be numerically integrated along tied field lines one at a time. In the case of the shearless fields with non-negligible plasma pressure treated here the conditions for stability arenecessary and sufficient. The method employs as a trial function a destabilizing ballooning mode, of large wave number vector perpendicular to the equilibrium field lines. These modes may not be picked up in a solution of the full partial differential equations which arise from a direct treatment of the problem.     

The intensity distribution of the D3 helium line near the solar limb

Cinematographic observations of the slitless flash spectrum near the D₃ helium line were performed in Yurgamysh at the total solar eclipse of September 22, 1968. The intensity distribution of the D₃ line was obtained with a height resolution of 44 km within the height interval between –3400 and +1700 km above the limb. The absorption line D₃ on the disk near the limb was discovered.     

Interaction and Dynamics of the Photospheric Network Magnetic Elements

Small-scale magnetic elements in the quiet photospheric network are believed to play a key role in the energy flow from the solar surface to upper layers of atmosphere. Their intense hydro-magnetic activity includes merging and fragmentation of same polarity fluxes, `total' or partial cancellation of neighboring flux elements of opposite polarity, dynamic appearance and disappearance of compact bipoles, etc. We study the general features of these processes, and show that non-collinearity of flux tubes, sharp stratification of low atmosphere and finite plasma beta lead to several specific effects in the interacting flux tubes that may explain the morphological properties of network magnetic field and also provide a mechanism for the energy build up and release in the nearby chromosphere and transition region. We show that during the collision of flux tubes in the photosphere reconnection occurs regardless of whether the flux tubes are of opposite or of the same polarity. But the dynamics of reconnection products are significantly different and lead to different macroscopic effects that can be observed.     

Spectropolarimetric investigation of an Ellerman bomb: 2. Photospheric models

Semiempirical models of the photosphere of an Ellerman bomb in the NOAA 11024 active region were obtained using profiles of Stokes parameters I, Q, U, and V of photospheric lines. Spectropolarimetric observations were conducted using the French–Italian THEMIS telescope (Tenerife, Spain). The SIR inversion code [28] was used in the modeling. The models have two components: a magnetic flux tube and nonmagnetic surroundings. The dependences of temperature, magnetic field strength, inclination of the magnetic field vector, and line-of-sight velocity in the tube on the optical depth were obtained. The models demonstrate that the thermodynamic parameters of the Ellerman bomb photosphere differ considerably from those of the quiet photosphere. The temperature in the tube model varied nonmonotonically with height and deviated by up to 700–900 K from its values for the quiet photosphere. Downflows were observed in the lower and the upper photospheric layers. The line-of-sight velocity in the upper layers of the photosphere was as high as 17 km/s. The magnetic field strength in the models varied from 0.1–0.13 T in the lower photospheric layers to 0.04–0.07 T in the upper ones. The physical state of the photosphere did change in the course of observations.     

UVMag: stellar formation,evolution, structure and environment with space UV and visible spectropolarimetry

Important insights into the formation, structure, evolution and environment of all types of stars can be obtained through the measurement of their winds and possible magnetospheres. However, this has hardly been done up to now mainly because of the lack of UV instrumentation available for long periods of time. To reach this aim, we have designed UVMag, an M-size space mission equipped with a high-resolution spectropolarimeter working in the UV and visible spectral range. The UV domain is crucial in stellar physics as it is very rich in atomic and molecular lines and contains most of the flux of hot stars. Moreover, covering the UV and visible spectral domains at the same time will allow us to study the star and its environment simultaneously. Adding polarimetric power to the spectrograph will multiply tenfold the capabilities of extracting information on stellar magnetospheres, winds, disks, and magnetic fields. Examples of science objectives that can be reached with UVMag are presented for pre-main sequence, main sequence and evolved stars. They will cast new light onto stellar physics by addressing many exciting and important questions. UVMag is currently undergoing a Research & Technology study and will be proposed at the forthcoming ESA call for M-size missions. This spectropolarimeter could also be installed on a large UV and visible observatory (e.g. NASA’s LUVOIR project) within a suite of instruments.     

First lunar wake passage of ARTEMIS: Discrimination of wake effects and solar wind fluctuations by 3D hybrid simulations

The spacecraft P1 of the new ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun) mission passed the lunar wake for the first time on February 13, 2010. We present magnetic field and plasma data of this event and results of 3D hybrid simulations. As the solar wind magnetic field was highly dynamic during the passage, a simulation with stationary solar wind input cannot distinguish whether distortions were caused by these solar wind variations or by the lunar wake; therefore, a dynamic real-time simulation of the flyby has been performed. The input values of this simulation are taken from NASA OMNI data and adapted to the P1 data, resulting in a good agreement between simulation and measurements. Combined with the stationary simulation showing non-transient lunar wake structures, a separation of solar wind and wake effects is achieved. An anisotropy in the magnitude of the plasma bulk flow velocity caused by a non-vanishing magnetic field component parallel to the solar wind flow and perturbations created by counterstreaming ions in the lunar wake are observed in data and simulations. The simulations help to interpret the data granting us the opportunity to examine the entire lunar plasma environment and, thus, extending the possibilities of measurements alone: A comparison of a simulation cross section to theoretical predictions of MHD wave propagation shows that all three basic MHD modes are present in the lunar wake and that their expansion governs the lunar wake refilling process.     

Quasi-stereoscopic imaging of the solar X-ray corona

The first published three-dimensional images of the solar X-ray corona, obtained by means of solar rotational parallax, are presented in stereographic form. Image pairs approximately 12 hours apart during times of stable coronal conditions were selected from the digitized images obtained with theSkylab X-ray Spectrographic Telescope. The image resolution limit is approximately 10 arc sec. Many coronal structures not visible in the separate images are clearly observed when the image pairs are viewed stereoscopically. This method gives a preview of the potential resources for solar research and forecasting of solar-geomagnetic interactions that could be provided by stereoscopic observations of the Sun using a small group of spacecraft. The method is also applicable to other X-ray, ultraviolet, or other wavebands in which the corona has extended, transparent structure.     

Photospheric subrotation,differential rotation and zonal wind bands: A reverse pirouette

Recently Mayr et al. (1980) have suggested that the superrotation of planetary atmospheres could, in principle, be understood as a pirouette. Equatorial heating is pumping atmospheric material toward the poles, and with a concomitant reduction in moment of inertia, the atmosphere has the tendency of spinning up. On the Sun, the core is assumed to be rotating with a period of about 12 days (Dicke, 1976; Knight et al., 1979) while the overlaying mantle convection zone has a solid body component of about 27 days. We propose here that this phenomenon could simply be understood as a reverse pirouette. Our model is similar to the models put forth by Kippenhahn (1963), Weiss (1965), Durney (1968), Busse (1970), Yoshimura (1972), Gilman (1974), and Gierasch (1974). Whereas the models listed provided solutions of valid equations and computer analyses, they lack a simple physical picture to explain the phenomenon. In our case, we have the solar oblateness conventionally providing added heat input at the poles. The result is the large scale transport of material toward the equator giving rise to subrotation. The model thus facilitates an understanding of the formation of a slowly rotating convection zone above the more rapidly rotating core. The latitudinal photospheric differential rotation is interpreted as a second order effect associated with horizontal momentum transport. The recent observations of zonal winds drifting equatorward with a 22-year period (Howard and LaBonte, 1980) may be related by this model as a third order effect from a similar periodicity in differential solar heating (pole to equator).     

Simultaneous multi-frequency imaging observations of solar microwave bursts

We review the results of simultaneous two-frequency imaging observations of solar microwave bursts with the Very Large Array. Simultaneous 2 and 6 cm observations have been made of bursts which are optically thin at both frequencies, or optically thick at the lower frequency. In the latter case the source structure may differ at the two frequencies, but the two sources usually seem to be related. However, this is not always true of simultaneous 6 and 20 cm observations. The results have implications for the analysis of non-imaging radio data of solar and stellar flares.