Quantifying Poynting Flux in the Quiet Sun Photosphere
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Dennis Tilipman↗
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Behavior of Solar Cycles 23 and 24 Revealed by Microwave Observations
Using magnetic and microwave butterfly diagrams, we compare the behavior of solar polar regions to show that (1) the polar magnetic field and the microwave brightness temperature during solar minimum substantially diminished during the cycle 23/24 minimum compared to the 22/23 minimum. (2) The polar microwave brightness temperature (Tb) seems to be a good proxy for the underlying magnetic field strength (B). The analysis indicates a relationship, B = 0.0067Tb - 70, where B is in G and Tb in K. (3) Both the brightness temperature and the magnetic field strength show north-south asymmetry most of the time except for a short period during the maximum phase. (4) The rush-to-the-pole phenomenon observed in the prominence eruption (PE) activity seems to be complete in the northern hemisphere as of 2012 March. (5) The decline of the microwave brightness temperature in the north polar region to the quiet-Sun levels and the sustained PE activity poleward of 60degN suggest that solar maximum conditions have arrived at the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere continues to exhibit conditions corresponding to the rise phase of solar cycle 24. Key words: Sun: chromosphere Sun: coronal mass ejections (CMEs) Sun: filaments, prominences Sun: photosphere Sun: radio radiation Sun: surface magnetism
Gopalswamy, N.↗
A Floor in the Sun's Photospheric Magnetic Field: Implications for an Independent Small-scale Dynamo
Clette recently showed that F 10.7 systematically approaches a quiet Sun daily value of 67 solar flux units (sfu) at solar minima as the number of spotless days on the Sun increases. Previously, a floor of ∼2.8 nT had been proposed for the solar wind (SW) magnetic field strength (B). F 10.7 , which closely tracks the Sun's unsigned photospheric magnetic flux, and SW B exhibit different relationships to their floors at 11 yr solar minima during the last ∼50 yr. While F 10.7 approaches 67 sfu at each minimum, the corresponding SW B is offset above ∼2.8 nT by an amount approximately proportional to the solar polar field strength—which varied by a factor of ∼2.5 during this interval. This difference is substantiated by ∼130 yr of reconstructed F 10.7 (via the range of the diurnal variation of the East-component (rY) of the geomagnetic field) and SW B (based on the interdiurnal variability geomagnetic activity index). For the last ∼60 yr, the contribution of the slow SW to SW B has exhibited a floor-like behavior at ∼2 nT, in contrast to the contributions of coronal mass ejections and high-speed streams that vary with the solar cycle. These observations, as well as recent SW studies based on Parker Solar Probe and Solar Dynamics Observatory data, suggest that (1) the Sun has a small-scale turbulent dynamo that is independent of the 11 yr sunspot cycle; and (2) the small-scale magnetic fields generated by this nonvarying turbulent dynamo maintain a constant open flux carried to the heliosphere by the Sun's floor-like slow SW.
Solar magnetic fields↗
Evidence for non-radial fields in the sun's photosphere and a possible explanation of the polar magnetic signal
The appearance of H-alpha fibrils suggests the presence of magnetic fields inclined at noticeably nonradial angles in the sun's chromosphere. Evidence is presented to suggest that these angles continue into the photosphere. The presence even of small nonradial inclinations can significantly affect the appearance of regions observed by a longitudinal magnetograph. In particular, a simple bipolar loop can appear unbalanced when viewed near the limb. It is suggested that the observed polar signal may be nothing more than a geometric effect arising when a balanced but systematically aligned array of bipolar pairs is viewed at an angle.
Pope, T.↗
Measurements and Modeling of Total Solar Irradiance in X-class Solar Flares
The Total Irradiance Monitor (TIM) from NASA's SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment can detect changes in the total solar irradiance (TSI) to a precision of 2 ppm, allowing observations of variations due to the largest X-class solar flares for the first time. Presented here is a robust algorithm for determining the radiative output in the TIM TSI measurements, in both the impulsive and gradual phases, for the four solar flares presented in Woods et al., as well as an additional flare measured on 2006 December 6. The radiative outputs for both phases of these five flares are then compared to the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiance output from the Flare Irradiance Spectral Model (FISM) in order to derive an empirical relationship between the FISM VUV model and the TIM TSI data output to estimate the TSI radiative output for eight other X-class flares. This model provides the basis for the bolometric energy estimates for the solar flares analyzed in the Emslie et al. study.
Sun: chromosphere↗
The spontaneous concentration of magnetic field in the photosphere of the sun
The basic physics of magnetic flux tubes in the solar photosphere is reviewed, with areas still open to conjecture pointed out. The question of the concentration of individual small flux tubes to levels of 1-2 kilogauss, when the average solar surface magnetic field is on the order of 10 gauss, by processes of twisting and the formation of flux ropes made up of tubes wound around each other is considered together with the effects of turbulence on the flux tube. Mechanisms for tube compression by the evacuation of the gas contained within a flux tube are then examined, and the possibility of field concentration through the cooling of the gas within the tube in a superadiabatic process is suggested. Attention is then given to possible mechanisms serving to maintain the concentration of flux tubes far below the surface of the sun which gives rise to sunspots and pores as the flux tree emerges through the surface.
Parker, E. N.↗
Semiempirical upper photosphere models - The sun /G2 V/ and Procyon /F5 IV-V/
A description is presented of an approach for developing a model of the average upper photosphere temperature structure of a late-type star. The approach makes use of the frequency dependence of the damping wing opacity of a strong resonance line. Difficulties related to a dependence on uncertain constant and parameter values are to be overcome with the aid of a 'calibration' relative to a solar photosphere model obtained by an independent method.
Ayres, T. R.↗
An interference filter for observing the photospheric network
Sun photographs with violet interference filter, determining photospheric magnetic fields position by cospatial network
Chapman, G. A.↗
On the differences between plage and quiet sun in the solar photosphere
Time sequences of interleaved observations of the continuum intensity, longitudinal magnetic field, vertical velocity in the midphotosphere, and the line-center intensity in Ni I 6768 A were obtained in an active-region plage and the surrounding relatively field-free area near disk center. Spacetime Fourier filtering techniques are used to separate the convective and oscillatory components of the solar atmosphere. The properties of the photosphere are found to differ qualitatively and quantitatively between the plage, where the field is 150 G or more, and its quiet surroundings. The scale of granulation is smaller, the contrast lower, and the temporal evolution slower in the plage than the quiet sun. In the plage, the vertical velocity is reduced in amplitude compared to the quiet sun, and there is little evidence of a granulation pattern, while in the quiet sun the vertical flow pattern is similar in size and shape to the underlying granulation pattern in the continuum.
Title, Alan M.↗
Time-Series Analysis of Supergranule Characterstics at Solar Minimum
Sixty days of Doppler images from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) / Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) investigation during the 1996 and 2008 solar minima have been analyzed to show that certain supergranule characteristics (size, size range, and horizontal velocity) exhibit fluctuations of three to five days. Cross-correlating parameters showed a good, positive correlation between supergranulation size and size range, and a moderate, negative correlation between size range and velocity. The size and velocity do exhibit a moderate, negative correlation, but with a small time lag (less than 12 hours). Supergranule sizes during five days of co-temporal data from MDI and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) / Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI) exhibit similar fluctuations with a high level of correlation between them. This verifies the solar origin of the fluctuations, which cannot be caused by instrumental artifacts according to these observations. Similar fluctuations are also observed in data simulations that model the evolution of the MDI Doppler pattern over a 60-day period. Correlations between the supergranule size and size range time-series derived from the simulated data are similar to those seen in MDI data. A simple toy-model using cumulative, uncorrelated exponential growth and decay patterns at random emergence times produces a time-series similar to the data simulations. The qualitative similarities between the simulated and the observed time-series suggest that the fluctuations arise from stochastic processes occurring within the solar convection zone. This behavior, propagating to surface manifestations of supergranulation, may assist our understanding of magnetic-field-line advection, evolution, and interaction.
Dopplergrams↗
Top 5 Elements on the Photosphere ("Surface") of the Sun
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Mitzi Adams↗
Studying Upward-Propagating Acoustic Waves in Realistic 3D RMHD Simulations of the Sun via Dynamics of Photospheric Fe I and Na I Lines
Overarching goal: to connect the dynamics of the spectral lines formed in the lower solar atmosphere to the properties of high-frequency acoustic waves
SMD↗
Photospheric Magnetic Flux Transport - Supergranules Rule
Observations of the transport of magnetic flux in the Sun's photosphere show that active region magnetic flux is carried far from its origin by a combination of flows. These flows have previously been identified and modeled as separate axisymmetric processes: differential rotation, meridional flow, and supergranule diffusion. Experiments with a surface convective flow model reveal that the true nature of this transport is advection by the non-axisymmetric cellular flows themselves - supergranules. Magnetic elements are transported to the boundaries of the cells and then follow the evolving boundaries. The convective flows in supergranules have peak velocities near 500 m/s. These flows completely overpower the superimposed 20 m/s meridional flow and 100 m/s differential rotation. The magnetic elements remain pinned at the supergranule boundaries. Experiments with and without the superimposed axisymmetric photospheric flows show that the axisymmetric transport of magnetic flux is controlled by the advection of the cellular pattern by underlying flows representative of deeper layers. The magnetic elements follow the differential rotation and meridional flow associated with the convection cells themselves -- supergranules rule!
Hathaway, David H.↗
Quantifying the Sun’s Magnetic Stress With the Photospheric Flows
We address the problem of constraining the mechanisms by which a massive amount of energy erupts from the sun at multiple scales, and how the corona is heated to high temperature. These mechanisms are highly dependent on how the magnetic field is stressed. As recommended in Klimchuk et al. white paper, translational and rotational motions of the photospheric magnetic elements are important drivers of the coronal heating that must be accurately characterized. Yet despite an abundance of photospheric observations, many uncertainties remain in measuring these flows that entangle and twist the magnetic field. This white paper states the current capacities for mapping the sun’s photospheric flows, with an emphasis on how to quantify the magnetic stress that builds up free energy and heats the corona. It also provides research avenues on how to go beyond our current limitations, so that the sun’s energy transport between the photosphere and the corona can be more accurately determined.
Raphael Attié↗
Reproducing the Photospheric Magnetic Field Evolution during the Rise of Cycle 24 with Flux Transport by Supergranules
We simulate the transport of magnetic flux in the Sun s photosphere by an evolving pattern of cellular horizontal flows (supergranules). Characteristics of the simulated flow pattern can match observed characteristics including the velocity power spectrum, cell lifetimes, and cell motions in longitude and latitude. Simulations using an average, and north-south symmetric, meridional motion of the cellular pattern produce polar magnetic fields that are too weak in the North and too strong in the South. Simulations using cellular patterns with meridional motions that evolve with the observed changes in strength and north-south asymmetry will be analyzed to see if they reproduce the polar field evolution observed during the rise of Cycle 24.
Hathaway, David↗
Reproducing the Photospheric Magnetic Field Evolution During the Rise of Cycle 24 with Flux Transport by Supergranules
We simulate the transport of magnetic flux in the Sun s photosphere by an evolving pattern of cellular horizontal flows (supergranules). Characteristics of the simulated flow pattern match observed characteristics including the velocity power spectrum, cell lifetimes, and cell pattern motion in longitude and latitude. Simulations using an average, and north-south symmetric, meridional motion of the cellular pattern produce polar magnetic fields that are too weak in the North and too strong in the South. Simulations using cellular patterns with meridional motions that evolve with the observed changes in strength and north-south asymmetry will be analyzed to see if they reproduce the polar field evolution observed during the rise of Cycle 24.
Hathaway, David H.↗
First Use of Synoptic Vector Magnetograms for Global Nonlinear, Force-Free Coronal Magnetic Field Models
Context. The magnetic field permeating the solar atmosphere is generally thought to provide the energy for much of the activity seen in the solar corona, such as flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), etc. To overcome the unavailability of coronal magnetic field measurements, photospheric magnetic field vector data can be used to reconstruct the coronal field. Currently, there are several modelling techniques being used to calculate three-dimensional field lines into the solar atmosphere. Aims. For the first time, synoptic maps of a photospheric-vector magnetic field synthesized from the vector spectromagnetograph (VSM) on Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) are used to model the coronal magnetic field and estimate free magnetic energy in the global scale. The free energy (i.e., the energy in excess of the potential field energy) is one of the main indicators used in space weather forecasts to predict the eruptivity of active regions. Methods. We solve the nonlinear force-free field equations using an optimization principle in spherical geometry. The resulting threedimensional magnetic fields are used to estimate the magnetic free energy content E(sub free) = E(sub nlfff) − E(sub pot), which is the difference of the magnetic energies between the nonpotential field and the potential field in the global solar corona. For comparison, we overlay the extrapolated magnetic field lines with the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations by the atmospheric imaging assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Results. For a single Carrington rotation 2121, we find that the global nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) magnetic energy density is 10.3% higher than the potential one. Most of this free energy is located in active regions.
Sun: corona↗
Overview of the Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation
Traditional magnetographs measure the solar magnetic field at the visible "surface" of the Sun, the photosphere. The Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation (SUMI) is a design study for an instrument to measure the solar magnetic field higher in the atmosphere, in the upper chromosphere and in the transition region at the base of the corona. The magnetic pressure at these levels is much stronger than the gas pressure (in contrast to the situation at the photosphere), and so the field is much more dynamic. Observations in this region will significantly improve our understanding of the physical processes driving flares and heating in the Sun's upper atmosphere. The instrument will incorporate new technologies to achieve the polarization efficiencies required to isolate the magnetic lines (Civ at 155nm and MgII at 280nm) to be observed in the UV. We describe the scientific goals, the SUMI baseline design and the optical components that are being developed for a sounding rocket program.
West, Edward A.↗