Li(2p ← 2s) + Na(3s) pressure broadening in the far-wing and line-core profiles

This work reports pressure-broadening line-wing and line-core of the lithium Li (2p ← 2s) resonance line perturbed by ground sodium Na (3s) atoms. In far-wing region the calculations are performed quantum-mechanically and are intended to examine the photoabsorption coefficients at diverse temperatures. The results show the existence of three satellites, in the blue wing near the wavelengths 470nm and in the red wing around 862 and 1070nm. For the line-core region, by adopting the simplified Baranger model the line-width and line-shift rates are determined and their variation law with temperature is examined. No published data were found to compare these results with.

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

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.

Observational indications of magneto-optical effects in the scattering polarization wings of the Ca I 4227 Å line

Context. Several strong resonance lines, such as H I Ly-α, Mg II k, Ca II K, and Ca I 4227 Å, are characterized by deep and broad absorption profiles in the solar intensity spectrum. These resonance lines show conspicuous linear scattering polarization signals when observed in quiet regions close to the solar limb. Such signals show a characteristic triplet-peak structure with a sharp peak in the line core and extended wing lobes. The line core peak is sensitive to the presence of magnetic fields through the Hanle effect, which however is known not to operate in the line wings. Recent theoretical studies indicate that, contrary to what was previously believed, the wing linear polarization signals are also sensitive to the magnetic field through magneto-optical (MO) effects. Aims. We search for observational indications of this recently discovered physical mechanism in the scattering polarization wings of the Ca I 4227 Å line. Methods. We performed a series of spectropolarimetric observations of this line using the Zurich IMaging POLarimeter camera at the Gregory-Coudé telescope at Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno in Switzerland and at the GREGOR telescope in Tenerife (Spain). Results. Spatial variations of the total linear polarization degree and linear polarization angle are clearly appreciable in the wings of the observed line. We provide a detailed discussion of our observational results, showing that the detected variations always take place in regions in which longitudinal magnetic fields are present, thus supporting the theoretical prediction that they are produced by MO effects.

Evolution of Stokes V area asymmetry related to a quiet Sun cancellation observed with GRIS/IFU

A quiet Sun magnetic flux cancellation event at the disk center was recorded using the Integral Field Unit (IFU) mounted on the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS). The GRIS instrument sampled the event in the photospheric Si I 10827 Å spectral line. The cancellation was preceded by a significant rise in line core intensity and excitation temperature, which is inferred from Stokes inversions under local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). The opposite polarity features seem to undergo reconnection above the photosphere. We also found that the border pixels neighboring the polarity inversion line of one of the polarities exhibit a systematic variation of area asymmetry. Area asymmetry peaks right after the line core intensity enhancement and gradually declines thereafter. Analyzing Stokes profiles recorded from either side of the polarity inversion line could therefore potentially provide additional information on the reconnection process related to magnetic flux cancellation. Further analysis without assuming LTE will be required to fully characterize this event.

Capabilities of bisector analysis of the Si I 10 827 Å line for estimating line-of-sight velocities in the quiet Sun

We examine the capabilities of a fast and simple method to infer line-of-sight (LOS) velocities from observations of the photospheric Si I 10 827 Å line. This spectral line is routinely observed together with the chromospheric He I 10 830 Å triplet as it helps to constrain the atmospheric parameters. We study the accuracy of bisector analysis and a line core fit of Si I 10 827 Å. We employ synthetic profiles starting from the Bifrost enhanced network simulation. The profiles are computed solving the radiative transfer equation, including non-local thermodynamic equilibrium effects on the determination of the atomic level populations of Si I. We found a good correlation between the inferred velocities from bisectors taken at different line profile intensities and the original simulation velocity at given optical depths. This good correlation means that we can associate bisectors taken at different line-profile percentages with atmospheric layers that linearly increase as we scan lower spectral line intensities. We also determined that a fit to the line-core intensity is robust and reliable, providing information about atmospheric layers that are above those accessible through bisectors. Therefore, by combining both methods on the Si I 10 827 Å line, we can seamlessly trace the quiet-Sun LOS velocity stratification from the deep photosphere to higher layers until around logτ = −3.5 in a fast and straightforward way. This method is ideal for generating quick-look reference images for future missions like the Daniel K. Inoue Solar Telescope and the European Solar Telescope, for example.

Characterization and formation of on-disk spicules in the Ca II K and Mg II k spectral lines

We characterize, for the first time, type-II spicules in Ca II K 3934 Å using the CHROMIS instrument at the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope. We find that their line formation is dominated by opacity shifts with the K3 minimum best representing the velocity of the spicules. The K2 features are either suppressed by the Doppler-shifted K3 or enhanced via increased contribution from the lower layers, leading to strongly enhanced but unshifted K2 peaks, with widening towards the line core as consistent with upper-layer opacity removal via Doppler-shift. We identify spicule spectra in concurrent IRIS Mg II k 2796Å observations with very similar properties. Using our interpretation of spicule chromospheric line formation, we produce synthetic profiles that match observations.

Height variation of magnetic field and plasma flows in isolated bright points

Aims. The expansion with height of the solar photospheric magnetic field and the plasma flows is investigated for three isolated bright points (BPs). Methods. The BPs were observed simultaneously with three different instruments attached to the 1.5 m GREGOR telescope: (1) filtergrams of Ca II H and blue continuum (4505 Å) with the HiFI, (2) imaging spectroscopy of the Na I D2 line at 5890 Å with the GFPI, and (3) slit spectropolarimetry in the 1 μm spectral range with the GRIS. Spectral-line inversions were carried out for the Si I 10827 Å Stokes profiles. Results. Bright points are identified in the Ca II H and blue continuum filtergrams. Moreover, they are also detected in the blue wing of the Na I D2 and Si I 10827 Å lines, as well as in the Ca I 10839 Å line-core images. We carried out two studies to validate the expansion of the magnetic field with height. On the one hand, we compare the photospheric Stokes V signals of two different spectral lines that are sensitive to different optical depths (Ca I vs. Si I). The area at which the Stokes V signal is significantly large is almost three times larger for the Si I line – sensitive to higher layers – than for the Ca I one. On the other hand, the inferred line-of-sight (LOS) magnetic fields at two optical depths (log τ = −1.0 vs. −2.5) from the Si I line reveal spatially broader fields in the higher layer, up to 51% more extensive in one of the BPs. The dynamics of BPs are tracked along the Na I D2 and Si I lines. The inferred flows from Na I D2 Doppler shifts are rather slow in BPs (≲1 km s−1). However, the Si I line shows intriguing Stokes profiles with important asymmetries. The analysis of these profiles unveils the presence of two components, a fast and a slow one, within the same resolution element. The faster one, with a smaller filling factor of ∼0.3, exhibits LOS velocities of about 6 km s−1. The slower component is slightly blueshifted. Conclusions. The present work provides observational evidence for the expansion of the magnetic field with height. Moreover, fast flows are likely present in BPs but are sometimes hidden because of observational limitations.

Plasma injection into a solar coronal loop

Context. The details of the spectral profiles of extreme UV emission lines from solar active regions contain key information for investigating the structure, dynamics, and energetics of the solar upper atmosphere. Aims. We characterize the line profiles not only through the Doppler shift and intensity of the bulk part of the profile. More importantly, we investigate the excess emission and asymmetries in the line wings to study twisting motions and helicity. Methods. We used a raster scan of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) in an active region. We concentrated on the Si IV line at 1394 Å, which forms just below 0.1 MK, and followed the plasma that moves in a cool loop from one footpoint to the other. We applied single-Gaussian fits to the line core, determined the excess emission in the red and blue wings, and derived the asymmetry of the red and blue wings. Results. The blue wing excess at one footpoint shows injection of plasma into the loop that then flows to the other side. At the same footpoint, redshifts in the line core indicate that energy is deposited at around 0.1 MK. The enhanced pressure would then push the cool plasma down and inject some plasma into the loop. In the middle part of the loop, the spectral tilts of the line profiles indicate that the magnetic field has a helical structure, and the line wings are symmetrically enhanced. This is an indication that the loop is driven through the injection of helicity at the loop feet. Conclusions. If the loop is driven to be helical, then the magnetic field can be expected to be in a turbulent state, as has been shown by existing magnetohydrodynamics models. The turbulent motions might explain the (symmetric) line wing enhancements that have also been seen in loops at coronal temperatures, but are not understood so far.