scholarly journals Small Scale Solar Magnetic Fields: Theory

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. O. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Field Strength ◽  
Solar Physics ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Granulation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Maximum Field Strength ◽  
Maximum Field

One of the most exciting developments in solar physics over the past eight years has been the success of ground based observers in resolving features with a scale smaller than the solar granulation. In particular, they have demonstrated the existence of intense magnetic fields, with strengths of up to about 1600G. Harvey (1976) has just given an excellent summary of these results.In solar physics, theory generally follows observations. Inter-granular magnetic fields had indeed been expected but their magnitude came as a surprise. Some problems have been discussed in previous reviews (Schmidt, 1968, 1974; Weiss, 1969; Parker, 1976d; Stenflo, 1976) and the new observations have stimulated a flurry of theoretical papers. This review will be limited to the principal problems raised by these filamentary magnetic fields. I shall discuss the interaction of magnetic fields with convection in the sun and attempt to answer such questions as: what is the nature of the equilibrium in a flux tube? how are the fields contained? what determines their stability? how are such strong fields formed and maintained? and what limits the maximum field strength?

scholarly journals Evolution of Large and Small Scale Magnetic Fields in the Sun

1991 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 218-222
Author(s):  
Peter A. Fox ◽  
Michael L. Theobald ◽  
Sabatino Sofia
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Time Dependence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sunspot Cycle ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Resistivity ◽  
Statistical Evolution

AbstractThis paper will discuss issues relating to the detailed numerical simulation of solar magnetic fields, those on the small scale which are directly observable on the surface, and those on larger scales whose properties must be deduced indirectly from phenomena such as the sunspot cycle. Results of simulations using the ADISM technique will be presented to demonstrate the importance of the treatment of Alfvén waves, the boundary conditions, and the statistical evolution of small scale convection with magnetic fields. To study the large scale fields and their time dependence, the magnetic resistivity plays an important role; its use will be discussed in the paper.

scholarly journals [no title]

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Photosphere ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Physical Problems ◽  
Observational Techniques

If the Sun is observed like a star, without spatial resolution, its magnetic field seldom exceeds 1 Gauss. But with high spatial resolution the field is seen to be largely concentrated into kG structures. Observations of the structure and dynamics of solar magnetic fields can therefore provide a guide to the nature of magnetic fields of other stars which cannot be resolved. Solar activity and the structure of the chromosphere and inner corona are intimately linked with magnetism and a complete understanding of these features often depends on magnetic field details. There are unsolved physical problems involving solar magnetic fields which have challenged many physicists. For example, confinement of small-scale fields in kG structures is a problem of current interest (Parker, 1976; Piddington, 1976; Spruit, 1976). Solar observers are no less challenged since the Sun presents us with a complicated magnetic field having a range of scales from global to less than the scale of our best observations as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. This paper is a survey of observational techniques and results at the small-scale end of the spectrum of sizes in the solar photosphere. This topic has been frequently reviewed (e.g. Athay, 1976; Beckers, 1976; Deubner, 1975; Howard, 1972; Mullan, 1974; Severny, 1972; Stenflo, 1975) so that recent work is emphasized here.

Small-scale solar magnetic fields: An overview

1993 ◽  
Vol 63 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami K. Solanki
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields

Electrodeless breakdown in elliptically polarized fields at 60 Hz

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 1284-1290
Author(s):  
D. E. Friedmann ◽  
F. L. Curzon ◽  
M. Feeley
Keyword(s):  
Field Strength ◽  
Linear Polarization ◽  
Breakdown Strength ◽  
Breakdown Threshold ◽  
Glass Bulb ◽  
Maximum Field Strength ◽  
High Fields ◽  
Strength Formula ◽  
Elliptically Polarized ◽  
Maximum Field

Theoretical and experimental results are presented on the frequency of electrodeless breakdown (fB) of a gas in a spherical glass bulb immersed in an elliptically polarized field of maximum field strength [Formula: see text] and frequency fA (~60 Hz). It is found that the breakdown threshold is independent of the ellipticity and that graphs fB versus [Formula: see text] are stepped at low fields and linear at high ones. At high fields, fB = fAl/e0 where l is the circumference of the phasor and e0 is the breakdown strength of the gas ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] respectively for circular and linear polarization). The implications of the results for measuring environmental fields are given.

II. Spots and Intense Flux Tubes

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-63
Author(s):  
J.C. Henoux
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Activity ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Solar Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Physics ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Flux Concentration ◽  
Scientific Meetings

The development of research on starspots, stellar activity, and the suspected relationship between coronal heating and magnetic field have reenforced the interest of the study of the solar magnetic field and the study of the associated thermodynamic structures. Several proceedings of scientific meetings appeared from 1984 to 1987 (Measurements of Solar Vector Magnetic Fields, 1985 (I); The Hydrodynamics of the Sun, 1984 (II); High Resolution in Solar Physics, 1985 (III); Theoritical Problems in High Resolution Solar Physics, 1985 (IV); Small Scale Magnetic Flux Concentration in the Solar Atmosphere, 1986 (V)). The finding that the solar irradiance in affected by solar activity has renewed interest in photometry of sunspots and faculae. Sunspots have been used for investigating solar differential and meridional motions. Some results are also found in Section III.

scholarly journals Small-Scale Solar Magnetic Fields

1976 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 69-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. O. Stenflo
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Solar Surface ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Wave Number ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Field Amplification ◽  
Wave Numbers ◽  
Diffuse Form

The observed properties of small-scale solar magnetic fields are reviewed. Most of the magnetic flux in the photosphere is in the form of strong fields of about 100–200 mT (1–2 kG), which have remarkably similar properties regardless of whether they occur in active or quiet regions. These fields are associated with strong atmospheric heating. Flux concentrations decay at a rate of about 107 Wb s-1, independent of the amount of flux in the decaying structure. The decay occurs by smaller flux fragments breaking loose from the larger ones, i.e. a transfer of magnetic flux from smaller to larger Fourier wave numbers, into the wave-number regime where ohmic diffusion becomes significant. This takes place in a time-scale much shorter than the length of the solar cycle.The field amplification occurs mainly below the solar surface, since very little magnetic flux appears in diffuse form in the photosphere, and the life-time of the smallest flux elements is very short. The observations further suggest that most of the magnetic flux in quiet regions is supplied directly from below the solar surface rather than being the result of turbulent diffusion of active-region magnetic fields.

scholarly journals Progress in the Measurement of Solar Magnetic Fields

1993 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoxiang Ai
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
White Light ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Solar Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Physics ◽  
Monochromatic Light ◽  
Velocity Fields ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Optical Instruments

AbstractThe historical development of optical instruments for solar physics is outlined, from white light to unpolarized and polarized monochromatic light, to Stokes profiles and simultaneous fields of view, from points to lines, plane to cube. An evolutionary series and classificaton of instruments for the solar magnetic field is described. As a next step the 2-D real time polarizing spectrograph has been proposed. The planned instruments in China for measurements of solar magnetic and velocity fields are briefly introduced.

scholarly journals Evolutions of various solar indices around sunspot maximum and sunspot minimum years

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 741-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Kane
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Physics ◽  
Total Solar Irradiance ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Cycles ◽  
Sunspot Maximum ◽  
Sunspot Minimum ◽  
Coronal Green Line ◽  
Two Indices ◽  
Two Peaks

Abstract. The smoothed monthly sunspot numbers showed that in many solar cycles, (a) during years around sunspot maxima, there was only one prominent maximum, but in some cycles there was a broad plateau. If the beginning and end of these are termed as first and second maxima (separated by several months), the first maximum was generally the higher one, and the valley in between was very shallow. Solar indices at or near the photosphere generally showed similar structures with maxima matching with sunspot maxima within a month or two. Indices originating in the chromosphere and above showed two peaks in roughly the same months as sunspots (with some exceptions, notably the Coronal green line, and the Total Solar Irradiance). Yet often, the second maximum was larger than the first maximum, and the valley between the two maxima was deeper, as compared to sunspot maxima, and (b) during years around sunspot minima, the smoothed sunspot minimum could be sharp and distinct, lasting for a month or two, or could spread over several months. Among the indices originating at or near the photosphere, the Ca K line intensity showed good matching with sunspots, but the Ca Plage area, the Sunspot Group Area, and the solar magnetic fields seemed to show minima earlier than the sunspots, indicating that these activities died out first. These also showed recoveries from the minima later than sunspots. Most of the other indices originating in the chromosphere and corona attained minima coincident with sunspot minima, but in some cases, minima earlier than sunspots were seen, while in some other cases minima occurred after the sunspot minima. Thus, the energy dissipation in the upper part of the solar atmosphere sometimes lagged or led the evolution of sunspots near sunspot minimum. In a few cases, after the minimum, the indices recovered faster than the sunspots. In general, the chromospheric indices seemed to evolve similar to sunspots, but the evolution of coronal indices was not always similar to sunspots, and may differ considerably between themselves.Key words. Solar physics, astrophysics and astronomy (Corona and transition region; Magnetic fields; Photosphere and chromosphere)

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