3. Spots and magnetic fields

Author(s):  
Philip Judge

‘Spots and magnetic fields’ explores sunspot behaviour. We have known since 1908 that sunspots are magnetic, but why does the Sun form them at all? Is the Sun extraordinary in this, or is its behaviour in line with other stars? The Sun’s magnetic field is generated by a solar dynamo, which can be partly explained by magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)—the study of the magnetic properties and behaviour of electrically conducting fluids—however, there is no full consensus on the solar dynamo. In the 1960s the new science of helioseismology gave us insights into the Sun’s interior rotation, but we are unable to make truly critical observations in the solar interior.

Author(s):  
Robert Cameron

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.


2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 343-347
Author(s):  
H. M. Antia ◽  
S. M. Chitre ◽  
M. J. Thompson

AbstractThe observed splittings of solar oscillation frequencies can be utilized to study possible large-scale magnetic fields present in the solar interior. Using the GONG data on frequency splittings an attempt is made to infer the strength of magnetic fields inside the Sun.


2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
K. Sundara Raman ◽  
K. B. Ramesh ◽  
R. Selvendran ◽  
P. S. M. Aleem ◽  
K. M. Hiremath

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.


RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (28) ◽  
pp. 17051-17057
Author(s):  
Anna Eichler-Volf ◽  
Yara Alsaadawi ◽  
Fernando Vazquez Luna ◽  
Qaiser Ali Khan ◽  
Simon Stierle ◽  
...  

PS/CoPd Janus particles respond very sensitively to application of low external magnetic fields. Owing to the magnetic properties, the PS/CoPd particles may be used, for example, to sense the presence of weak magnetic fields as micro-magnetometers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S294) ◽  
pp. 13-24
Author(s):  
Hongqi Zhang

AbstractThe helicity is important to present the basic topological configuration of magnetic field in solar atmosphere. The distribution of magnetic helicity in solar atmosphere is presented by means of the observational (vector) magnetograms. As the kinetic helicity in the solar subatmosphere can be inferred from the velocity field based on the technique of the helioseismology and used to compare with the magnetic helicity in the solar atmosphere, the observational helicities provide the important chance for the confirmation on the generation of magnetic fields in the subatmosphere and solar dynamo models also. In this paper, we present the observational magnetic and kinetic helicity in solar active regions and corresponding questions, except the relationship with solar eruptive phenomena.


1971 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 609-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Daigne ◽  
M. F. Lantos-Jarry ◽  
M. Pick

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.


1976 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 113-118
Author(s):  
P. Ambrož

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (A29A) ◽  
pp. 360-364
Author(s):  
Rim Fares

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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