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- Narayan, Gautam, 1979-
(författare)
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Imaging spectropolarimetry of solar active regions
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Solar magnetic fields span a wide range of spatial scales from sunspots and plages to magnetic bright points. A clear understanding of the physical processes underlying the evolution of these magnetic features requires high-resolution spectropolarimetric observations of solar active regions and comparisons with synthetic data from simulations. This thesis is based on observations with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) and the CRISP imaging spectropolarimeter which, processed with a sophisticated image restoration technique, produce data of unsurpassed quality. The Fe I 630.25 nm line is used for all the spectropolarimetric observations. It appears likely that present telescopes resolve the fundamental scales of penumbral filaments. However, the penumbrae of sunspots are still not fully understood, with various theoretical models competing to explain their fine structure and flows. We analyze spectropolarimetric observations with a resolution close to the SST diffraction limit of 0.16 arcsecond. Using inversion techniques, we map the line-of-sight velocities and the magnetic-field configuration of dark-cored penumbral filaments. Over the past decade, sunspots and quiet sun magnetic fields have received considerable attention, with intermediate plage regions being somewhat neglected. We perform a detailed analysis of a plage region and present the first observational evidence of a small-scale granular magneto-convection pattern associated with a plage region. Magnetic bright points are believed to be formed due to magnetic field intensification caused by flux-tube collapse involving strong downflows. Although magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations agree with this view, only a few observations with adequate spatial resolution exist in support of the simulations. We present several cases of bright-point formation associated with strong downflows, which qualitatively agree with simulations and past observations. However, we find the field intensification to be transient rather than permanent.
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- Narayan, Gautam
(författare)
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Transient downflows associated with the intensification of small-scale magnetic features and bright point formation
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 529, s. A79-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Small-scale magnetic features are present everywhere in the solar photosphere. Theoretical models, numerical calculations, and simulations describing the formation of these features have existed for a few decades, but there are only a few observational studies in direct support of the simulations. In particular, there is a lack of high resolution spectropolarimetric observations capturing the formation of small-scale magnetic features. Aims. In this study we present the evolution of small-scale magnetic features with a spatial resolution close to 0 ''. 15 and compare these observations with those predicted by numerical simulations and also with previous observational work of a similar nature. Methods. We analyze a 40 min time sequence of full Stokes spectropolarimetric 630.25 nm data from a plage region near the Sun center. We use line-of-sight velocities and magnetic field measurements obtained using Milne-Eddington inversion techniques with and without stray-light compensation along with measured continuum and line minimum intensities. We discuss the results in relation to earlier observations and simulations. Results. We present eight cases involving strong transient downflows and magnetic field intensification. All cases studied are associated with the formation of a bright point in the continuum. In three out of the eight cases we find the presence of weak opposite polarity field in close proximity to the downflow. Conclusions. Our data are consistent with earlier simulations describing flux tube collapse, but the transition to a state with stronger field appears transient and short-lived, rather than resulting in a permanent field intensification. Three cases of weak opposite polarity field found adjacent to the downflows do not appear related to reconnection but may be related to overturning convection pulling down some field lines and leading to up/down serpentine field, as seen in some simulations.
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- Scharmer, Göran B., et al.
(författare)
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CRISP spectropolarimetric imaging of penumbral fine structure
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8205 .- 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 689:1, s. L69-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We discuss penumbral fine structure in a small part of a pore, observed with the CRISP imaging spectropolarimeter at the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST), close to its diffraction limit of 0.16 . Milne-Eddington inversions applied to these Stokes data reveal large variations of field strength and inclination angle over dark-cored penumbral intrusions and a dark-cored light bridge. The mid-outer part of this penumbra structure shows 0.3 wide spines, separated by 1.6 (1200 km) and associated with 30° inclination variations. Between these spines, there are no small-scale magnetic structures that easily can be identified with individual flux tubes. A structure with nearly 10° more vertical and weaker magnetic field is seen midway between two spines. This structure is cospatial with the brightest penumbral filament, possibly indicating the location of a convective upflow from below.
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