scholarly journals Do the quiet sun magnetic fields vary with the solar cycle?

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S305) ◽  
pp. 22-27
Author(s):  
Marianne Faurobert ◽  
Gilbert Ricort ◽  
Bruce Lites
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Quiet Sun ◽  
Dynamo Mechanism ◽  
Global Increase ◽  
Efficient Mechanisms ◽  
Polarization Fluctuation

AbstractThe quiet Sun observed in polarized light exhibits a rich and complex magnetic structuring which is still not fully resolved nor understood. The present work is intended to contribute to the debate about the origin of the quiet sun magnetic fields, in relation or not to the global solar dynamo. We present analysis of center-to-limb polarization measurements obtained with the SOT/SP spectropolarimeter onboard the Hinode satellite outside active regions, in 2007 and 2013, i.e. at a minimum and a maximum of the solar cycle, respectively. We compare the spatial fluctuation Fourier spectra of unsigned circular and linear polarization images after corrections for polarization bias and focus variations between the two data sets. The decay of active regions is clearly a source of magnetic fields in the quiet Sun. It leads to a global increase of the polarization fluctuation power spectrum in 2013 in the network. In the internetwork, we observe no variation of the polarization fluctuation power at mesogranular and granular scales, whereas it increases at sub-granular scales. We interpret these results in the following way. At the mesogranular and granular scales very efficient mechanisms of magnetic field removal are operating in the internetwork, that leads to a dissipation or a concentration of magnetic fields on smaller scales. So the cycle-invariant magnetic signal that we detect at mesogranular and granular scales must be continuously created by a dynamo mechanism which is independent of the solar cycle.

Chaotic modulation of the solar cycle

1994 ◽  
Vol 348 (1688) ◽  
pp. 445-447 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
17Th Century ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Maunder Minimum ◽  
Magnetic Cycle ◽  
Sunspot Minimum ◽  
Proxy Records ◽  
Oriented Parallel

The Sun’s magnetic activity varies cyclically, with a well-defined mean period of about 11 years. At the beginning of a new cycle, spots appear at latitudes around ±30°; then the zones of activity expand and drift towards the equator, where they die away as the new cycle starts again at higher latitudes. Active regions are typically oriented parallel to the equator, with oppositely directed magnetic fields in leading and following regions. The sense of these fields is opposite in the two hemispheres and reverses at sunspot minimum. So the magnetic cycle has a 22-year period, with waves of activity that drift towards the equator. Sunspot records show that there was a dearth of spots in the late 17th century - the Maunder minimum - which can also be detected in proxy records.

scholarly journals Long-term evolution of sunspot magnetic fields

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S273) ◽  
pp. 126-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Penn ◽  
William Livingston
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Spectral Line ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Infrared Spectral ◽  
Cycle 24 ◽  
Synoptic Observations

AbstractIndependent of the normal solar cycle, a decrease in the sunspot magnetic field strength has been observed using the Zeeman-split 1564.8nm Fe I spectral line at the NSO Kitt Peak McMath-Pierce telescope. Corresponding changes in sunspot brightness and the strength of molecular absorption lines were also seen. This trend was seen to continue in observations of the first sunspots of the new solar Cycle 24, and extrapolating a linear fit to this trend would lead to only half the number of spots in Cycle 24 compared to Cycle 23, and imply virtually no sunspots in Cycle 25.We examined synoptic observations from the NSO Kitt Peak Vacuum Telescope and initially (with 4000 spots) found a change in sunspot brightness which roughly agreed with the infrared observations. A more detailed examination (with 13,000 spots) of both spot brightness and line-of-sight magnetic flux reveals that the relationship of the sunspot magnetic fields with spot brightness and size remain constant during the solar cycle. There are only small temporal variations in the spot brightness, size, and line-of-sight flux seen in this larger sample. Because of the apparent disagreement between the two data sets, we discuss how the infrared spectral line provides a uniquely direct measurement of the magnetic fields in sunspots.

scholarly journals Is magnetic topology important for heating the solar atmosphere?

2015 ◽  
Vol 373 (2042) ◽  
pp. 20140264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare E. Parnell ◽  
Julie E. H. Stevenson ◽  
James Threlfall ◽  
Sarah J. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Solar Atmosphere ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Energy Losses ◽  
Wave Dissipation ◽  
Quiet Sun ◽  
Topological Features ◽  
Complex Topology ◽  
Global And Local

Magnetic fields permeate the entire solar atmosphere weaving an extremely complex pattern on both local and global scales. In order to understand the nature of this tangled web of magnetic fields, its magnetic skeleton, which forms the boundaries between topologically distinct flux domains, may be determined. The magnetic skeleton consists of null points, separatrix surfaces, spines and separators. The skeleton is often used to clearly visualize key elements of the magnetic configuration, but parts of the skeleton are also locations where currents and waves may collect and dissipate. In this review, the nature of the magnetic skeleton on both global and local scales, over solar cycle time scales, is explained. The behaviour of wave pulses in the vicinity of both nulls and separators is discussed and so too is the formation of current layers and reconnection at the same features. Each of these processes leads to heating of the solar atmosphere, but collectively do they provide enough heat, spread over a wide enough area, to explain the energy losses throughout the solar atmosphere? Here, we consider this question for the three different solar regions: active regions, open-field regions and the quiet Sun. We find that the heating of active regions and open-field regions is highly unlikely to be due to reconnection or wave dissipation at topological features, but it is possible that these may play a role in the heating of the quiet Sun. In active regions, the absence of a complex topology may play an important role in allowing large energies to build up and then, subsequently, be explosively released in the form of a solar flare. Additionally, knowledge of the intricate boundaries of open-field regions (which the magnetic skeleton provides) could be very important in determining the main acceleration mechanism(s) of the solar wind.

scholarly journals Irradiance Models Based on Solar Magnetic Fields

1994 ◽  
Vol 143 ◽  
pp. 217-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Active Region ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Coronal Holes ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Spectral Irradiance ◽  
Solar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Quiet Sun ◽  
Possible Cause

A method to separate the active region and quiet network components of the magnetic fields in the photosphere is described and compared with the corresponding measurements of the He I λ 10830 absorption. The relation between the total He I absorption and total magnetic flux in active regions is roughly linear and differs between cycles 21 and 22. There appears to no relation between these two quantities in areas outside of active regions. The total He I absorption in the quiet Sun (comprised of network, filaments, and coronal holes) exceeds that in active regions at all times during the cycle. As a whole, active regions of cycle 22 appear to be less complex than the active regions of cycle 21, hinting at one possible cause for a differing relation between spectral-irradiance variations and the underlying magnetic flux for these two cycles.

scholarly journals Modeling the solar cycle: what the future holds

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S286) ◽  
pp. 54-64
Author(s):  
Dibyendu Nandy
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Interior ◽  
Magnetic Field Generation ◽  
Kinematic Dynamo ◽  
The Future ◽  
Dynamo Mechanism ◽  
Stellar Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Models ◽  
Evolution With Time

AbstractStellar magnetic fields are produced by a magnetohydrodynamic dynamo mechanism working in their interior – which relies on the interaction between plasma flows and magnetic fields. The Sun, being a well-observed star, offers an unique opportunity to test theoretical ideas and models of stellar magnetic field generation. Solar magnetic fields produce sunspots, whose number increases and decreases with a 11 year periodicity – giving rise to what is known as the solar cycle. Dynamo models of the solar cycle seek to understand its origin, variation and evolution with time. In this review, I summarize observations of the solar cycle and describe theoretical ideas and kinematic dynamo modeling efforts to address its origin. I end with a discussion on the future of solar cycle modeling – emphasizing the importance of a close synergy between observational data assimilation, kinematic dynamo models and full magnetohydrodynamic models of the solar interior.

Twist of Magnetic Fields in Solar Active Regions

2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 245-247
Author(s):  
Hongqi Zhang ◽  
Lirong Tian ◽  
Shudong Bao ◽  
Mei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
General Trend ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Twisted Field ◽  
Current Helicity ◽  
Sunspot Groups

Extended abstractIn the solar atmosphere, the magnetic and current helicity have played an important role in the study of twisted magnetic field. Current helicity parameterh∥=B∥· (∇ ×B)∥and force free factorcan be used to analyze the distribution of twisted field (current helicity) in the photosphere (Seehafer 1990; Pevtsovet al.1995; Bao & Zhang 1998). Bao & Zhang (1998) and Zhang & Bao (1999) computed the photospheric current helicity parameterh∥for 422 active regions, including most of the large ones observed in the period of 1988–1997 at Huairou Solar Observing Station of Beijing Astronomical Observatory.The calculated results (Pevtsovet al.1995; Abramenkoet al.1996; Bao & Zhang 1998) show that most current helicities in sunspot groups in the northern hemisphere show negative sign in the northern hemisphere, while positive in the southern hemisphere, which is consistent with Seehafer’s result (Seehafer 1990). The distribution of current helicity parameterh∥in active regions also shows the butterfly pattern through the solar cycle. And, less than 30% of the active regions do not follow the general trend (Zhang & Bao 1998).

scholarly journals Small-Scale Magnetic Features Observed in the Photosphere

1990 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 129-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara F. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Quiet Sun ◽  
Magnetic Features

Small-scale solar features identifiable on the quiet sun in magnetograms of the line-of-sight component consist of network, intranetwork, ephemeral region magnetic fields, and the elementary bipoles of ephemeral active regions. Network fields are frequently observed to split into smaller fragments and equally often, small fragments are observed to merge or coalesce into larger clumps; this splitting and merging is generally confined to the borders and vertices of the convection cells known as supergranules. Intranetwork magnetic fields originate near the centers of the supergranule convection cells and appear to increase in magnetic flux as they flow in approximate radial patterns towards the boundaries of the cells.

Calculated Coronal Magnetic Fields and Their Comparison with the Coronal Structures as Observed during Five Solar Eclipses

1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 559-564
Author(s):  
P. Ambrož ◽  
J. Sýkora
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Corona ◽  
Coronal Magnetic Field ◽  
Coronal Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Eclipses ◽  
Coronal Structures

AbstractWe were successful in observing the solar corona during five solar eclipses (1973-1991). For the eclipse days the coronal magnetic field was calculated by extrapolation from the photosphere. Comparison of the observed and calculated coronal structures is carried out and some peculiarities of this comparison, related to the different phases of the solar cycle, are presented.

Radio Measurements of Coronal Magnetic Fields

1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. B. Gelfreikh
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Solar Corona ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Coronal Magnetic Field ◽  
Transverse Magnetic ◽  
Radio Sources ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Solar Active Regions

AbstractA review of methods of measuring magnetic fields in the solar corona using spectral-polarization observations at microwaves with high spatial resolution is presented. The methods are based on the theory of thermal bremsstrahlung, thermal cyclotron emission, propagation of radio waves in quasi-transverse magnetic field and Faraday rotation of the plane of polarization. The most explicit program of measurements of magnetic fields in the atmosphere of solar active regions has been carried out using radio observations performed on the large reflector radio telescope of the Russian Academy of Sciences — RATAN-600. This proved possible due to good wavelength coverage, multichannel spectrographs observations and high sensitivity to polarization of the instrument. Besides direct measurements of the strength of the magnetic fields in some cases the peculiar parameters of radio sources, such as very steep spectra and high brightness temperatures provide some information on a very complicated local structure of the coronal magnetic field. Of special interest are the results found from combined RATAN-600 and large antennas of aperture synthesis (VLA and WSRT), the latter giving more detailed information on twodimensional structure of radio sources. The bulk of the data obtained allows us to investigate themagnetospheresof the solar active regions as the space in the solar corona where the structures and physical processes are controlled both by the photospheric/underphotospheric currents and surrounding “quiet” corona.

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