scholarly journals Mapping solar magnetic fields from the photosphere to the base of the corona

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. eabe8406
Author(s):  
Ryohko Ishikawa ◽  
Javier Trujillo Bueno ◽  
Tanausú del Pino Alemán ◽  
Takenori J. Okamoto ◽  
David E. McKenzie ◽  
...  

Routine ultraviolet imaging of the Sun’s upper atmosphere shows the spectacular manifestation of solar activity; yet, we remain blind to its main driver, the magnetic field. Here, we report unprecedented spectropolarimetric observations of an active region plage and its surrounding enhanced network, showing circular polarization in ultraviolet (Mg iih & k and Mn i) and visible (Fe i) lines. We infer the longitudinal magnetic field from the photosphere to the very upper chromosphere. At the top of the plage chromosphere, the field strengths reach more than 300 G, strongly correlated with the Mg iik line core intensity and the electron pressure. This unique mapping shows how the magnetic field couples the different atmospheric layers and reveals the magnetic origin of the heating in the plage chromosphere.


1971 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 329-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Vrabec

Zeeman spectroheliograms of photospheric magnetic fields (longitudinal component) in the CaI 6102.7 Å line are being obtained with the new 61-cm vacuum solar telescope and spectroheliograph, using the Leighton technique. The structure of the magnetic field network appears identical to the bright photospheric network visible in the cores of many Fraunhofer lines and in CN spectroheliograms, with the exception that polarities are distinguished. This supports the evolving concept that solar magnetic fields outside of sunspots exist in small concentrations of essentially vertically oriented field, roughly clumped to form a network imbedded in the otherwise field-free photosphere. A timelapse spectroheliogram movie sequence spanning 6 hr revealed changes in the magnetic fields, including a systematic outward streaming of small magnetic knots of both polarities within annular areas surrounding several sunspots. The photospheric magnetic fields and a series of filtergrams taken at various wavelengths in the Hα profile starting in the far wing are intercompared in an effort to demonstrate that the dark strands of arch filament systems (AFS) and fibrils map magnetic field lines in the chromosphere. An example of an active region in which the magnetic fields assume a distinct spiral structure is presented.



2000 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 324-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.F. Henrichs ◽  
J.A. de Jong ◽  
J.-F. Donati ◽  
C. Catala ◽  
G.A. Wade ◽  
...  

AbstractNew circular spectropolarimetric observations of the B1 IIIe star β Cep (υsini = 25 km s−1) show a sinusoidally varying weak longitudinal magnetic field (~ 200 G peak-to-peak). The period corresponds to the 12 day period in the stellar wind variations observed in ultraviolet spectral lines. Maximum field occurs at maximum emission in the UV wind lines. This gives compelling evidence for a magnetic-rotator model for this star, with an unambiguous rotation period of 12 days.The similarity between the Hα emission phases in β Cep and in Be stars suggests that the origin of the Be phenomenon does not have to be rapid rotation: we propose that in β Cep the velocity to bring material in (Keplerian) orbit is provided by the high corotation velocity at the Alfvén radius (~10 R*), whereas in Be stars this is done by the rapid rotation of the surface. In both cases the cause of the emission phases has still to be found. Weak temporary magnetic fields remain the strongest candidate.A full paper, with results including additional measurements in June and July 1999, will appear in A & A.



Author(s):  
Henrik Melin

We review the current understanding of the upper atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune, and explore the upcoming opportunities available to study these exciting planets. The ice giants are the least understood planets in the solar system, having been only visited by a single spacecraft, in 1986 and 1989, respectively. The upper atmosphere plays a critical role in connecting the atmosphere to the forces and processes contained within the magnetic field. For example, auroral current systems can drive charged particles into the atmosphere, heating it by way of Joule heating. Ground-based observations of H 3 + provides a powerful remote diagnostic of the physical properties and processes that occur within the upper atmosphere, and a rich dataset exists for Uranus. These observations span almost three decades and have revealed that the upper atmosphere has continuously cooled between 1992 and 2018 at about 8 K/year, from approximately 750 K to approximately 500 K. The reason for this trend remain unclear, but could be related to seasonally driven changes in the Joule heating rates due to the tilted and offset magnetic field, or could be related to changing vertical distributions of hydrocarbons. H 3 + has not yet been detected at Neptune, but this discovery provides low-hanging fruit for upcoming facilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the next generation of 30 m telescopes. Detecting H 3 + at Neptune would enable the characterization of its upper atmosphere for the first time since 1989. To fully understand the ice giants, we need dedicated orbital missions, in the same way the Cassini spacecraft explored Saturn. Only by combining in situ observations of the magnetic field with in-orbit remote sensing can we get the complete picture of how energy moves between the atmosphere and the magnetic field. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Future exploration of ice giant systems’.



2019 ◽  
Vol 484 (4) ◽  
pp. 4495-4506 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Hubrig ◽  
M Küker ◽  
S P Järvinen ◽  
A F Kholtygin ◽  
M Schöller ◽  
...  

Abstract Only 11 O-type stars have been confirmed to possess large-scale organized magnetic fields. The presence of a −600 G longitudinal magnetic field in the O9.7 V star HD 54879 with a lower limit of the dipole strength of ∼2 kG was discovered a few years ago in the framework of the ESO large program ‘B-fields in OB stars’. Our FORS 2 spectropolarimetric observations from 2017 October 4 to 2018 February 21 reveal the presence of short- and long-term spectral variability and a gradual magnetic field decrease from about −300 G down to about −90 G. Different scenarios are discussed in an attempt to interpret our observations. Our FORS 2 radial velocity measurements indicate that HD 54879 is a member of a long-period binary.



2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 519-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kabin ◽  
G. Kalugin ◽  
E. Spanswick ◽  
E. Donovan

In this paper we discuss conditions under which charged particles are confined by an axisymmetric longitudinal magnetic field with power law dependence on the radius. We derive a transcendental equation for the critical speed corresponding to the threshold between bounded and unbounded trajectories of the particles. This threshold speed shows strong dependence on the direction, and this dependence becomes more prominent as the exponent of the power law increases. The equation for threshold speed can be solved exactly for several specific values of the power exponent, but in general it requires a numerical treatment. Remarkably, if the magnetic field magnitude decreases more slowly than the inverse of the radius, charged particles remain confined no matter how large their energies may be.



2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S302) ◽  
pp. 402-403
Author(s):  
J. Ramírez Vélez ◽  
D. Hiriart ◽  
G. Valyavin ◽  
J. Valdez ◽  
F. Quiroz ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present the preliminary results of the measurements of longitudinal magnetic field of the massive white dwarf 1658+441. This star have an hydrogen pure atmosphere (e.g. Dupuis & Chayer, 2003). We have observed the target in a total of 18 hrs during 3 consecutive nights in June 2010 and one more in May 2011. The data was acquired with a prototypical spectropolarimeter at the San Pedro Martir Telescope in Mexico. We have tested the magnetic field measurements with our instrument using the famous Babcock's star obtaining consistent results with previous studies. For our object of study, the WD 1658+441, we have measured variable intensities of the longitudinal magnetic field of Blong = 720 kG that oscillates with an amplitude of 130 kG.



2018 ◽  
Vol 618 ◽  
pp. L2 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Järvinen ◽  
S. Hubrig ◽  
I. Ilyin ◽  
M. Schöller ◽  
M. F. Nieva ◽  
...  

Aims. We focus on early-B type stars with helium overabundance, for which the presence of a magnetic field has not previously been reported. Methods. The measurements were carried out using high-spectral-resolution spectropolarimetric observations obtained with the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) in polarimetric mode, installed at the ESO La Silla 3.6 m telescope. Results. For five He-rich stars, the longitudinal magnetic field was detected for the first time. For one target, HD 58260, the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field of the order of 1.8 kG has already been reported in the literature, but the magnetic field has remained constant over tens of years. Our measurement carried out using the polarimetric spectra obtained in 2015 March indicates a slight decrease of the longitudinal magnetic field strength compared to measurements reported in previous works. A search for periodic modulation in available photometric data allowed us to confidently establish a period of 2.64119 ± 0.00420 d in archival ASAS3 data for CPD–27°1791. No period could be determined for the other five stars. Conclusions. The obtained results support the scenario that all He-rich stars are detectably magnetic and form an extension of the Ap star phenomenon to higher temperatures.



1993 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
S.I. Gopasyuk

Results of a study of longitudinal magnetic fields in active regions are presented. The observed magnetic field strength increases with height in the photosphere. The maximum of the magnetic field intensity coincides with the level where the central parts of λ5324,2 Å FeI and λ5269,5 FeI line profiles are formed. On the Hβ formation level the observed magnetic field intensity is smaller as compared with the potential one calculated on the basis of the observed field in FeI λ5253, 5Å line. The difference between the observed magnetic field and potential one is explained in terms of transverse electric currents. The current value can mount to 3×1011 A.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ildar Shaikhislamov ◽  
Maxim Khodachenko ◽  
Ilya Miroshnichenko ◽  
Marina Rumenskikh ◽  
Artem Berezutsky

<p>Using the global 3D multi-fluid HD and its extension to MHD we simulated the measured HD209458b transit absorption depths at the FUV lines, and at the NIR line (10830 Å) of metastable helium HeI(2<sup>3</sup>S) triplet, paying attention to possible change of the absorption profiles due to the presence of planetary intrinsic magnetic field. As continuation of our previous studies of HD209458b (<em>Shaikhislamov et al. 2018, 2020</em>), the inclusion of the HeI(2<sup>3</sup>S) line into consideration and the comparison with corresponding measurements allows to constrain the helium abundance by He/H ~ 0.02, and stellar XUV flux at 1 a.u. by <em>F</em><sub>XUV </sub>~10 erg cm<sup>2</sup> s<sup>-1</sup> at 1 a.u. For the first time, we studied the influence of the planetary dipole magnetic field with a model which self-consistently describes the generation of the escaping upper atmospheric flow of a magnetized hot Jupiter, formation of magnetosphere and its interaction with the stellar wind. We simulated the absorption in the most of spectral lines for which measurements have been made. MHD simulations have shown that the planetary magnetic dipole moment µ<sub>P</sub> = 0.61 of the Jovian value, which produces the magnetic field equatorial surface value of 1 G, profoundly changes the character of the escaping planetary upper atmosphere. The total mass loss rate in this case is reduced by 2 times, as compared to the non-magnetized planet. In particular, we see the formation of the dead- and the wind- zones around the planet with the different character of plasma motion there. The 3D MHD modelling also confirmed the previous 2D MHD simulations result of <em>Khodachenko et al (2015) </em>that the escaping PW forms a thin magnetodisk in the equatorial region around the planet. The significantly reduced velocity of PW at the low altitudes around the planet, and especially at the night side, results in the stronger photo-ionization of species and significantly lower densities of the corresponding absorbing elements. Altogether, the reduced velocities and lower densities result in significant decrease of the absorption at Lyα (HI), OI, and CII lines, though the absorption at HeI(2<sup>3</sup>S) line remains nearly the same.</p> <p>As it was shown in our previous papers, the dense and fast stellar wind, interacting with the escaping upper atmosphere of HD209458b, generates sufficient amount of Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs) to produce significant absorption in the high-velocity blue wing of the Lyα line. However, according to the performed 3D MHD modelling reported here, the planetary magnetic dipole field with the equatorial surface value of B<sub>p</sub>=1 G prevents the formation of ENAs, especially in the trailing tail. This effect opens a possibility to constrain the range of planetary magnetic field values for the evaporating hot Jupiters and warm Neptunes in the stellar-planetary systems where sufficiently strong SW is expected.</p> <p>The presented results fitted to the available measurements indicate that the magnetic field of HD209458b should be at least an order of magnitude less than that of the Jupiter. This conclusion agrees with the previous estimates, based on more simplified models (e.g., <em>Kislyakova et al. 2014</em>) and much less observational data, when only Lyα absorption was considered. We believe that the application of 3D MHD models simulating the escape of upper atmospheres of hot exoplanets and the related transits at the available for measurement spectral lines, sensitive to the dynamics of planetary plasma affected by the MF, opens a way for probing and quantifying of exoplanetary magnetic fields and sheds more light on their nature.</p> <p>This work was supported by grant № 18-12-00080 of the Russian Science Foundation and grant № 075-15-2020-780 of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.</p> <p> </p> <p>Khodachenko, M.L., Shaikhislamov, I.F., Lammer, H., et al., 2015, ApJ, 813, 50.</p> <p>Shaikhislamov, I. F., Khodachenko, M. L., Lammer, H., et al., 2018, ApJ, 866(1), 47.</p> <p>Shaikhislamov, I. F., Khodachenko, M. L., Lammer, et al., 2020, MNRAS, 491(3), 3435-3447</p>



It has long been known that the positive column of a gas discharge is diamagnetic as a result of the motions of the electrons in a longitudinal magnetic field, but there has been considerable discrepancy between theory and experimental measurements made on low pressure discharges. Calculations are reported here based on a theory in which the ion motion is treated in a fluid approximation for parameters relevant to new experimental measurements. This theory automatically takes into account the effect of the magnetic field on electron temperature and electron number density distribution. It is shown that with this model and sufficient knowledge of the discharge conditions, good agreement can be obtained between theory and experiment for magnetic fields typically less than 300 G.



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