On the peculiarities of manifestation of kG magnetic elements in observations of the Sun with low spatial resolution

AbstractOn the agenda of modern astrophysics is the exploration of not only disk-integrated stellar magnetic fields but surface mapping of them. However, it is hardly possible to expect that spatial resolution better than some dozens or hundreds pixels over stellar disk will be achieved for this goal in the foreseeable future. Among other reasons this fact makes very important observations of the average and large-scale magnetic fields of the Sun, which can be naturally used for testing polarimetric measurements on other stars, especially on solar-type stars. In this study we explore different aspects of observations of solar magnetic fields (SMF) with low spatial resolution, including Sun-as-a-star observations, which are characterized by extremely low magnetic flux densities. Comparison of disk-integrated and spatially resolved Stokes observations of the Sun allow us to demonstrate how Stokes V profiles depend on the distribution of large-scale magnetic fields in the disk center. It is shown that center-to-limb variations of magnetic strength ratios (MSR) and area asymetries, most likely could be interpreted as the manifestation of kG magnetic flux tubes. We have made cross-calibration of the full-disk magnetograms obtained by space-borned SDO/HMI and by the ground-based STOP telescope, and pretty good agreement is found. Finally, the absence of significant systematic time variations of MSRs with solar cycle is demonstrated.

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Solar Dynamo

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Physics ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780190871994.013.11 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Robert Cameron

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Magnetic Flux ◽

Differential Rotation ◽

Large Scale ◽

Toroidal Field ◽

Solar Dynamo ◽

Small Scale ◽

The Sun ◽

The Magnetic Field

The solar dynamo is the action of flows inside the Sun to maintain its magnetic field against Ohmic decay. On small scales the magnetic field is seen at the solar surface as a ubiquitous “salt-and-pepper” disorganized field that may be generated directly by the turbulent convection. On large scales, the magnetic field is remarkably organized, with an 11-year activity cycle. During each cycle the field emerging in each hemisphere has a specific East–West alignment (known as Hale’s law) that alternates from cycle to cycle, and a statistical tendency for a North-South alignment (Joy’s law). The polar fields reverse sign during the period of maximum activity of each cycle. The relevant flows for the large-scale dynamo are those of convection, the bulk rotation of the Sun, and motions driven by magnetic fields, as well as flows produced by the interaction of these. Particularly important are the Sun’s large-scale differential rotation (for example, the equator rotates faster than the poles), and small-scale helical motions resulting from the Coriolis force acting on convective motions or on the motions associated with buoyantly rising magnetic flux. These two types of motions result in a magnetic cycle. In one phase of the cycle, differential rotation winds up a poloidal magnetic field to produce a toroidal field. Subsequently, helical motions are thought to bend the toroidal field to create new poloidal magnetic flux that reverses and replaces the poloidal field that was present at the start of the cycle. It is now clear that both small- and large-scale dynamo action are in principle possible, and the challenge is to understand which combination of flows and driving mechanisms are responsible for the time-dependent magnetic fields seen on the Sun.

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Large-scale transport of solar and stellar magnetic flux

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921319004587 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (A30) ◽

pp. 347-350

Author(s):

Emre Işık

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Fields ◽

Magnetic Flux ◽

Large Scale ◽

Surface Flux ◽

Current Understanding ◽

Solar Photosphere ◽

The Sun ◽

Forward Modelling ◽

Flux Transport ◽

Brightness Variability

AbstractSurface flux transport (SFT) models have been successful in reproducing how magnetic flux at the solar photosphere evolves on large scales. SFT modelling proved to be useful in reconstructing secular irradiance variations of the Sun, and it can be potentially used in forward modelling of brightness variations of Sun-like stars. We outline our current understanding of solar and stellar SFT processes, and suggest that nesting of activity can play an important role in shaping large-scale patterns of magnetic fields and brightness variability.

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Emergence of Twisted Magnetic Flux Related Sigmoidal Brightening

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100064630 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 179 ◽

pp. 263-264

Author(s):

K. Sundara Raman ◽

K. B. Ramesh ◽

R. Selvendran ◽

P. S. M. Aleem ◽

K. M. Hiremath

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Magnetic Flux ◽

Ultra Violet ◽

Active Regions ◽

Morphological Properties ◽

Energy Storage And Conversion ◽

The Sun ◽

X Rays ◽

The Magnetic Field

Extended AbstractWe have examined the morphological properties of a sigmoid associated with an SXR (soft X-ray) flare. The sigmoid is cospatial with the EUV (extreme ultra violet) images and in the optical part lies along an S-shaped Hαfilament. The photoheliogram shows flux emergence within an existingδtype sunspot which has caused the rotation of the umbrae giving rise to the sigmoidal brightening.It is now widely accepted that flares derive their energy from the magnetic fields of the active regions and coronal levels are considered to be the flare sites. But still a satisfactory understanding of the flare processes has not been achieved because of the difficulties encountered to predict and estimate the probability of flare eruptions. The convection flows and vortices below the photosphere transport and concentrate magnetic field, which subsequently appear as active regions in the photosphere (Rust & Kumar 1994 and the references therein). Successive emergence of magnetic flux, twist the field, creating flare productive magnetic shear and has been studied by many authors (Sundara Ramanet al.1998 and the references therein). Hence, it is considered that the flare is powered by the energy stored in the twisted magnetic flux tubes (Kurokawa 1996 and the references therein). Rust & Kumar (1996) named the S-shaped bright coronal loops that appear in soft X-rays as ‘Sigmoids’ and concluded that this S-shaped distortion is due to the twist developed in the magnetic field lines. These transient sigmoidal features tell a great deal about unstable coronal magnetic fields, as these regions are more likely to be eruptive (Canfieldet al.1999). As the magnetic fields of the active regions are deep rooted in the Sun, the twist developed in the subphotospheric flux tube penetrates the photosphere and extends in to the corona. Thus, it is essentially favourable for the subphotospheric twist to unwind the twist and transmit it through the photosphere to the corona. Therefore, it becomes essential to make complete observational descriptions of a flare from the magnetic field changes that are taking place in different atmospheric levels of the Sun, to pin down the energy storage and conversion process that trigger the flare phenomena.

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Solar Filaments as Tracers of Subsurface Processes

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100064459 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 179 ◽

pp. 177-183

Author(s):

D. M. Rust

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Fields ◽

Magnetic Flux ◽

Coronal Mass Ejections ◽

Interplanetary Space ◽

Intermediate Stage ◽

Coronal Plasma ◽

Magnetic Helicity ◽

The Sun ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Solar Filaments

AbstractSolar filaments are discussed in terms of two contrasting paradigms. The standard paradigm is that filaments are formed by condensation of coronal plasma into magnetic fields that are twisted or dimpled as a consequence of motions of the fields’ sources in the photosphere. According to a new paradigm, filaments form in rising, twisted flux ropes and are a necessary intermediate stage in the transfer to interplanetary space of dynamo-generated magnetic flux. It is argued that the accumulation of magnetic helicity in filaments and their coronal surroundings leads to filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections. These ejections relieve the Sun of the flux generated by the dynamo and make way for the flux of the next cycle.

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The macrodynamics of α-effect dynamos in rotating fluids

Journal of Fluid Mechanics ◽

10.1017/s0022112075000390 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 417-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 140

Author(s):

W. V. R. Maekus ◽

M. R. E. Proctor

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Fields ◽

Large Scale ◽

Magnetic Energy ◽

Finite Amplitude ◽

Small Scale ◽

Past Study ◽

Ohmic Loss ◽

General Will ◽

Rotating Systems ◽

Stellar Magnetic Fields

Past study of the large-scale consequences of forced small-scale motions in electrically conducting fluids has led to the ‘α-effect’ dynamos. Various linear kinematic aspects of these dynamos have been explored, suggesting their value in the interpretation of observed planetary and stellar magnetic fields. However, large-scale magnetic fields with global boundary conditions can not be force free and in general will cause large-scale motions as they grow. I n this paper the finite amplitude behaviour of global magnetic fields and the large-scale flows induced by them in rotating systems is investigated. In general, viscous and ohmic dissipative mechanisms both play a role in determining the amplitude and structure of the flows and magnetic fields which evolve. In circumstances where ohmic loss is the principal dissipation, it is found that determination of a geo- strophic flow is an essential part of the solution of the basic stability problem. Nonlinear aspects of the theory include flow amplitudes which are independent of the rotation and a total magnetic energy which is directly proportional to the rotation. Constant a is the simplest example exhibiting the various dynamic balances of this stabilizing mechanism for planetary dynamos. A detailed analysis is made for this case to determine the initial equilibrium of fields and flows in a rotating sphere.

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Optical and Radio Observations of Large Scale Magnetic Fields on the Sun

Symposium - International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s007418090002307x ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 609-615 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

G. Daigne ◽

M. F. Lantos-Jarry ◽

M. Pick

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Large Scale ◽

Interplanetary Medium ◽

Coronal Magnetic Field ◽

The Sun ◽

Radio Observations ◽

Active Centers ◽

Field Patterns

It is possible to deduce information concerning large scale coronal magnetic field patterns from the knowledge of the location of radioburst sources.As the method concerns active centers responsible for corpuscular emission, the knowledge of these structures may have important implications in the understanding of corpuscular propagation in the corona and in the interplanetary medium.

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About the Relation Between the Limb Effect of the Redshift on the Sun and the Large-Scale Distribution of Solar activity

Symposium - International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s0074180900008111 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. 113-118

Author(s):

P. Ambrož

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Solar Activity ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽

Large Scale ◽

The Sun ◽

Limb Effect

The measurement of the magnitude of the limb effect was homogenized in time and a recurrent period of maxima of 27.8 days was found. A relation was found between the maximum values of the limb effect of the redshift, the boundaries of polarities of the interplanetary magnetic field, the characteristic large-scale distribution of the background magnetic fields and the complex of solar activity.

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Sun-like Stars: magnetic fields, cycles and exoplanets

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s1743921316003288 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (A29A) ◽

pp. 360-364

Author(s):

Rim Fares

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Field ◽

Magnetic Fields ◽

Large Scale ◽

Observational Constraints ◽

The Sun ◽

Field Generation ◽

Large Scale Magnetic Field ◽

Planetary Orbits ◽

Activity Cycles ◽

Magnetic Cycles

AbstractIn Sun-like stars, magnetic fields are generated in the outer convective layers. They shape the stellar environment, from the photosphere to planetary orbits. Studying the large-scale magnetic field of those stars enlightens our understanding of the field properties and gives us observational constraints for field generation dynamo models. It also sheds light on how “normal” the Sun is among Sun-like stars. In this contribution, I will review the field properties of Sun-like stars, focusing on solar twins and planet hosting stars. I will discuss the observed large-scale magnetic cycles, compare them to stellar activity cycles, and link that to what we know about the Sun. I will also discuss the effect of large-scale stellar fields on exoplanets, exoplanetary emissions (e.g. radio), and habitability.

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