The Green Corona and Magnetic Fields

We present results of a study of the green corona (530.3 nm, Fexiv) and photospheric magnetic fields over the period 1976–1999 when both quantities were observed by ground-based observatories. By comparing both the limb green-line intensities and photospheric magnetograms we have found a relation between the strength of magnetic field and coronal intensities. This relation enables us to extend solar surface magnetic fields since 1976 back to 1939. From 1947 to 1992 the magnetic field strength grew at the cycle maxima by a factor of 1.5–2. On the other hand, both the green corona intensity and magnetic field strength in the present cycle are smaller compared to cycle 22, by a factor of 2. No relationship was found between the green corona intensities and magnetic field polarity as was previously supposed. Behavior for the green corona intensities is different between high-latitude and mid-latitude regions, and this break occurs at the heliographic latitude of ± 45°. Homogeneous coronal data set cannot be directly used to derive `the tilt angle', even though some similarities between the green coronal holes, poleward branches in the green corona and prominences and the tilt angle can be found.     

Prominences and the Green Corona Over the Solar Activity Cycle

Prominences, in contrast to other solar activity features, may appear at all heliographic latitudes. The position of zones where prominences are mainly concentrated depends on the cycle phase of solar activity. It is shown, for prominence observations made at Lomnický tít over the period 1967–1996, how the position of prominence zones changes over a solar cycle, and how these zones could be connected with other solar activity features. Our results obtained could be an additional source to do a better prediction of solar activity. Time-latitudinal distribution is also shown for the green corona (Fexiv, 530.3 nm). Distribution of the green coronal maxima shows that there are equator-migrating zones in the solar corona that migrate from latitudes of 45° (starting approximately 2–3 years after the cycle start) to higher latitudes 70°, and then turn (around the cycle maximum) towards the equator, reaching the equator in the next minimum (this duration lasts 18–19 years). Polar branches separate from these zones at the cycle minimum (2–3 years before above-mentioned zones) at latitudes of 50°, reaching the poles at the maximum of the present cycle. The picture becomes dim when more polar prominence zones are observed. Prominences show both the poleward and equatorward migration. Comparison between both solar activity features is also discussed.     

The Variation of Solar Wind Correlation Lengths Over Three Solar Cycles

We present the results of a study of solar wind velocity and magnetic field correlation lengths over the last 35 years. The correlation length of the magnetic field magnitude λ _|B| increases on average by a factor of two at solar maxima compared to solar minima. The correlation lengths of the components of the magnetic field l_BXYZ\lambda_{B_{XYZ}} and of the velocity l_VYZ\lambda_{V_{YZ}} do not show this change and have similar values, indicating a continual turbulent correlation length of around 1.4×10⁶ km. We conclude that a linear relation between λ _|B|, VB ², and Kp suggests that the former is related to the total magnetic energy in the solar wind and an estimate of the average size of geoeffective structures, which is, in turn, proportional to VB ². By looking at the distribution of daily correlation lengths we show that the solar minimum values of λ _|B| correspond to the turbulent outer scale. A tail of larger λ _|B| values is present at solar maximum causing the increase in mean value.     

Connections Between the White-Light Eclipse Corona and Magnetic Fields over the Solar Cycle

Observations of ten solar eclipses (1973–1999) enabled us to reveal and describe mutual relations between the white-light corona structures (e.g., global coronal forms and most conspicuous coronal features, such as helmet streamers and coronal holes) and the coronal magnetic field strength and topology. The magnetic field strength and topology were extrapolated from the photospheric data under the current-free assumption. In spite of this simplification the found correspondence between the white-light corona structure and magnetic field organization strongly suggests a governing role of the field in the appearance and evolution of local and global structures. Our analysis shows that the study of white-light corona structures over a long period of time can provide valuable information on the magnetic field cyclic variations. This is particularly important for the epoch when the corresponding measurements of the photospheric magnetic field are absent.     

Coronal Mass Ejections,Magnetic Fields,and the Green Corona in Cycle 23

We study a time – latitudinal distribution of CMEs observed by the SOHO spacecraft, their projected speeds and associated magnetic fields, as well as the north – south (N – S) asymmetry of solar surface magnetic fields, and the coronal green line intensities. We have found that (a) there exists an intricate relation between the average projected velocity of CMEs and the mean value of large-scale magnetic fields; (b) there exists a pronounced N – S asymmetry in both the distribution and the number of CMEs; (c) this asymmetry is in favor of the northern hemisphere at the beginning of the cycle, and of the southern hemisphere from 2001 onward, being, in fact, (d) closely related with the N – S asymmetry in the distribution of large-scale magnetic fields and the coronal green line intensities.     

Heating the Solar Corona by Magnetic Reconnection

Here I review briefly the theory of magnetohydrodynamic reconnection and ask what observational evidence is there that it is heating the corona. In particular, the new directions in which three-dimensional theory for reconnection is heading are outlined. Part of the coronal heating problem has been solved with the identification of reconnection driven by converging flux motions as the key for x-ray bright points. Furthermore, it has been shown that the large-scale diffuse corona is heated rather uniformly, so that turbulent reconnection by braiding or ion-cyclotron waves driven by network micro-flares are prime candidates. Finally, reconnection is the natural explanation for a wide variety of phenomena discovered by SOHO including explosive events, blinkers, the magnetic carpet and even possibly tornadoes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Magnetic Fields and Solar Activities

We discuss the study of solar magnetic fields based on the photospheric vector magnetograms of solar active regions which were obtained at Huairou Solar Observing Station near Beijing in the period of 22nd and 23th solar cycles. The measurements of the chromospheric magnetic field and the spatial configuration of the field at the lower solar atmosphere inferred by the distribution of the solar photospheric and chromospheric magnetic field. After the analysis on the formation process of delta configuration in some super active regions based on the photospheric vector magnetogram observations, some results are obtained: (1) The analysis of magnetic writhe of whole active regions cannot be limited in the strong field of sunspots, because the contribution of the fraction of decayed magnetic field is non-negligible. (2) The magnetic model of kink magnetic ropes, proposed to be generated in the subatmosphere, is not consistent with the evolution of large-scale twisted photospheric transverse magnetic field and the relationship with magnetic shear in some delta active regions completely. (3) The proposition is that the large-scale delta active regions are formed from contribution by highly sheared non-potential magnetic flux bundles generated in the subatmosphere. We present some results of a study of the magnetic helicity. We also compare these results with other data sets obtained by magnetographs (or Stokes polarimeters) at different observatories, and analyze the basic chirality of the magnetic field in the solar atmosphere.     

Longitudinal Distribution of Solar Magnetic Fields and Activity During the Ending and Starting Periods of Activity Cycles

Studying the appearance of active regions during periods of solar activity minima, we observed that the magnetic fields of active regions belonging to the old and new cycle were mutually related. This was the reason we decided to investigate the relation of the old and new cycle activity during the two last minima in more detail. We examined the distribution of both activities in heliographic longitude, because the patterns of such distribution change substantially during the time of the minimum, and we studied their relation to the distribution and development of the global (background) magnetic field. We observed that the active regions of the old and new cycles tended to concentrate in the same active longitudes. The sources of their magnetic fluxes seem to have the same heliographic longitude. The beginning of the new cycle activity, occurring at the very beginning to a very weak degree in the equatorial zone, and then proceeding to higher latitudes, occurs in the magnetic field remnants of the old cycle activity. During the transition phase, a relatively large number of small active regions is produced by both cycles.     

Magnetic Flux Imbalance of the Solar and Heliospheric Magnetic Fields

A comparative analysis of solar and heliospheric magnetic fields in terms of their cumulative sums reveals cyclic and long-term changes that appear as a magnetic flux imbalance and alternations of dominant magnetic polarities. The global magnetic flux imbalance of the Sun manifests itself in the solar mean magnetic field (SMMF) signal. The north – south asymmetry of solar activity and the quadrupole mode of the solar magnetic field contribute the most to the observed magnetic flux imbalance. The polarity asymmetry exhibits the Hale magnetic cycle in both the radial and azimuthal components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Analysis of the cumulative sums of the IMF components clearly reveals cyclic changes in the IMF geometry. The accumulated deviations in the IMF spiral angle from its nominal value also demonstrate long-term changes resulting from a slow increase of the solar wind speed over 1965 – 2006. A predominance of the positive IMF B _z with a significant linear trend in its cumulative signal is interpreted as a manifestation of the relic magnetic field of the Sun. Long-term changes in the IMF B _z are revealed. They demonstrate decadal changes owing to the 11/22-year solar cycle. Long-duration time intervals with a dominant negative B _z component were found in temporal patterns of the cumulative sum of the IMF B _z .     

The Temperature of the Low Corona During Solar Cycles 21–23

Observations of the forbidden coronal lines Fe xiv 530.3 nm and Fe x 637.4 nm obtained at the National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak are used to determine the variation of coronal temperature at latitudes above 30^∘ during solar activity cycles 21–23. Features of the long-term variation of emission in the two lines are also discussed. Temperatures at latitudes below 30^∘ are not studied because the technique used to determine the coronal temperature is not applicable in active regions. The polar temperature varies cyclically from approximately 1.3 to 1.7 MK. The temperatures are similar in both hemispheres. The temperature near solar minimum decreases strongly from mid-latitudes to the poles. The temperature of the corona above 80^∘ latitude generally follows the sunspot cycle, with minima in 1985 and 1995–1996 (cf. 1986 and 1996 for the smoothed sunspot number, Rz) and maxima in 1989 and 2000 (cf. 1989 and 2000 for Rz). The temperature of the corona above 30^∘ latitude at solar maximum is nearly uniform, i.e., there is little latitude dependence. If the maximum temperatures of cycles 22 and 23 are aligned in time (superposed epochs), the average annual N + S temperature (average of the northern and southern hemisphere) in cycle 23 is hotter than that in cycle 22 at all times both above 80^∘ latitude and above 30^∘ latitude. The difference in the average annual N + S maximum temperature between cycles 23 and 22 was 56 kK near the poles and 64 kK for all latitudes above 30^∘. Cycle 23 was also hotter at mid-latitudes than cycle 22 by 60 kK. The last 3 years of cycle 21 were hotter than the last 3 years of cycle 22. The difference in average annual N + S temperatures at the end of cycles 21 and 22 was 32 kK near the poles and 23 kK for all latitudes above 30^∘. Cycle 21 was also hotter at mid-latitudes than cycle 22 by at least 90 kK. Thus, there does not seem to be a solar-cycle trend in the low-coronal temperature outside of active regions.     

The Flattening Index of the Eclipse White-Light Corona and Magnetic Fields

From observations of the solar white-light corona at 65 eclipses from 1851 to 2015 we confirm earlier findings that the flattening index of the white-light corona depends on the phase, rather than the magnitude of solar cycles, which is in contrast with behavior of other major solar activity indices like the sunspot number, the 2800 MHz radio flux, etc. This indicates that mechanisms responsible for creation and distribution of helmet streamers, the most essential coronal structures influencing the flattening index, could be of different magnetic nature from those of other manifestations of solar surface activity.     

Differential Rotation of the Solar Corona from Magnetic Field Data

A method for investigating the differential rotation of the solar corona using the coronal magnetic field as a tracer is proposed. The magnetic field is calculated in the potential approximation from observational data at the photospheric level. The time interval from June 24, 1976, to December 31, 2004, is considered. The magnetic field has been calculated for all latitudes from the equator to ±75? with a 5? step at distances from the base of the corona 1.0 R_⊙ to 2.45 R_⊙ near the source surface. The coronal rotation periods at 14 distances from the solar center have been determined by the method of periodogram analysis. The coronal rotation is shown to become progressively less differential with increasing heliocentric distance; it does not become rigid even near the source surface. The change in the coronal rotation periods with time is considered. At the cycleminimumthe rotation has been found to bemost differential, especially at small distances from the solar center. The change in coronal rotation with time is consistent with the tilt of the solar magnetic equator. The results from the magnetic field are compared with those obtained from the brightness of the green coronal Fe XIV 530.3 nm line. The consistency between these results confirms the reliability of the proposed method for studying the coronal rotation. Studying the rotation of the coronal magnetic field gives hope for the possibility of using this method to diagnose the differential rotation in subphotospheric layers.     

The Magnetic Field of the Solar Corona from Pulsar Observations

We present a novel experiment with the capacity to independently measure both the electron density and the magnetic field of the solar corona. We achieve this through measurement of the excess Faraday rotation resulting from propagation of the polarised emission from a number of pulsars through the magnetic field of the solar corona. This method yields independent measures of the integrated electron density, via dispersion of the pulsed signal and the magnetic field, via the amount of Faraday rotation. In principle this allows the determination of the integrated magnetic field through the solar corona along many lines of sight without any assumptions regarding the electron density distribution. We present a detection of an increase in the rotation measure of the pulsar J1801-2304 of approximately 170 rad m² at an elongation of 0.96° from the centre of the solar disc. This corresponds to a lower limit of the magnetic field strength along this line of sight of >41.8 nT. The lack of precision in the integrated electron density measurement restricts this result to a limit, but application of coronal plasma models can further constrain this to approximately 0.5 μT, along a path passing 2.7 solar radii from the solar limb, which is consistent with predictions obtained using extensions to the source surface models published by the Wilcox Solar Observatory.     

Non-equilibrium of Magnetic Flux Tubes emerging into the Solar Corona

A lack of equilibrium of twisted magnetic flux tubes emerging from the photosphere into the corona is considered. Assuming mass and flux conservation in the tube and an isothermal tube that is in thermal equilibrium with the surrounding plasma, it is shown that a sufficently rapid temperature increase through the transition zone may lead to the loss of magnetohydrostatic equilibrium of the emerging flux tube due to the enhancement of the plasma pressure inside the tube. The non-equilibrium leads to a rapid expansion of the tube to reach a new equilibrium state. The rise and expansion of the tube before and after the non-equilibrium are accompanied by an increase in the twist of the magnetic field. This may lead to the field exceeding the threshold for the onset of the kink instability and a subsequent explosive release of magnetic energy.     

Plasma and Magnetic Fields in the Heliosphere at the Growth Phase of Solar Cycle 23: Comparison with Previous Cycles

The average values of the parameters of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field at the Earth's orbit are calculated by using the results of direct measurements performed in the current and three previous solar cycles. Individual and general features of each cycle are analyzed by the method of superposition of epochs and hysteresis curves. The similarity in trends of solar cycles 23 and 20 at their growth phase is revealed. This gives additional reason to expect that the current solar cycle as a whole will be weaker than the two previous cycles.     

High-Resolution Studies of the Solar Polar Magnetic Fields

We present high-resolution studies of the solar polar magnetic fields near sunspot maximum in 1989 and towards sunspot minimum in 1995. We show that, in 1989, the polar latitudes were covered by several unipolar regions of both polarities. In 1995, however, after the polar field reversal was complete, each pole exhibited only one dominant polarity region.Each unipolar region contains magnetic knots of both polarities but the number count of the knots of the dominant polarity exceeds that of the opposite polarity by a ratio of order 4:1, and it is rare to find opposite polarity pairs, i.e., magnetic bipoles.These knots have lifetimes greater than 7 hours but less than 24 hours. We interpret the longitudinal displacement of the knots over a 7-hour period as a measure of the local rotation rate. This rotation rate is found to be generally consistent with Snodgrass' (1983) magnetic rotation law.In an attempt to obtain some insight into the operation of the solar dynamo, sketches of postulated subsurface field configurations corresponding to the observed surface fields at these two epochs of the solar cycle are presented.     

磁能和磁复杂性向日冕的传输

本文讨论了从太阳光球向日冕传输磁能和磁复杂性的过程。活动日冕，作为由电磁场和粒子组成的系统，其唯一的开场表面是太阳光球。光球层等离子体的运动和磁场的相互作用，是造成磁能和磁复杂性向日冕传播的主要根源；同时，光球上的耗散过程也对日冕磁能和磁复杂性的积累有不可忽视的贡献。     

Rotation Characteristics of Large-Scale Solar Magnetic Fields

The rotation characteristics of large-scale (global) magnetic fields (GMF) and their relation to the activity of local fields (LMF) are studied over a long time interval (1915–1996). The main results are as follows. The GMF rotation rates and LMF activity vary in anticorrelation. Both variations have similar periods (11 years and a quasi-secular period of about 55–60 years), but are shifted relative to each other by half an 11-year cycle. Therefore, (1) the GMF rotation rate increases at the minimum of the 11-year cycle of LMF activity. (2) The GMF rotation rate is faster in the less active hemisphere. (3) The GMF rotation period slows down at the maximum of the secular LMF activity (cycles 18 and 19).