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This content will become publicly available on July 1, 2024
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10483125
- Publisher / Repository:
- EDP Sciences
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Volume:
- 675
- ISSN:
- 0004-6361
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- A182
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract δ ) sunspots sometimes host fast photospheric flows along the central magnetic polarity inversion line (PIL). Here we study the strong Doppler shift signature in the central penumbral light bridge of solar active region NOAA 12673. Observations from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) indicate highly sheared and strong magnetic fields. Large Doppler shifts up to 3.2 km s−1appeared during the formation of the light bridge and persisted for about 16 hr. A new velocity estimator, called DAVE4VMwDV, reveals fast converging and shearing motion along the PIL from HMI vector magnetograms, and recovers the observed Doppler signal much better than an old version of the algorithm. The inferred velocity vectors are largely (anti-)parallel to the inclined magnetic fields, suggesting that the observed Doppler shift contains a significant contribution from the projected field-aligned flows. High-resolution observations from the Hinode/Spectro-Polarimeter further exhibit a clear correlation between the Doppler velocity and the cosine of the magnetic inclination, which is in agreement with HMI results and consistent with a field-aligned flow of about 9.6 km s−1. The complex Stokes profiles suggest significant gradients of physical variables along the line of sight. We discuss the implications on theδ -spot magnetic structure and the flow-driving mechanism. -
Abstract Sunspot light bridges (LBs) exhibit a wide range of short-lived phenomena in the chromosphere and transition region. In contrast, we use here data from the Multi-Application Solar Telescope (MAST), the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), Hinode, the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) to analyze the sustained heating over days in an LB in a regular sunspot. Chromospheric temperatures were retrieved from the MAST Ca
ii and IRIS Mgii lines by nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium inversions. Line widths, Doppler shifts, and intensities were derived from the IRIS lines using Gaussian fits. Coronal temperatures were estimated through the differential emission measure, while the coronal magnetic field was obtained from an extrapolation of the HMI vector field. At the photosphere, the LB exhibits a granular morphology with field strengths of about 400 G and no significant electric currents. The sunspot does not fragment, and the LB remains stable for several days. The chromospheric temperature, IRIS line intensities and widths, and AIA 171 and 211 Å intensities are all enhanced in the LB with temperatures from 8000 K to 2.5 MK. Photospheric plasma motions remain small, while the chromosphere and transition region indicate predominantly redshifts of 5–20 km s−1with occasional supersonic downflows exceeding 100 km s−1. The excess thermal energy over the LB is about 3.2 × 1026erg and matches the radiative losses. It could be supplied by magnetic flux loss of the sunspot (7.5 × 1027erg), kinetic energy from the increase in the LB width (4 × 1028erg), or freefall of mass along the coronal loops (6.3 × 1026erg). -
Context. With the development of large-aperture ground-based solar telescopes and the adaptive optics system, the resolution of the obtained solar images has become increasingly higher. In the high-resolution photospheric images, the fine structures (umbra, penumbra, and light bridge) of sunspots can be observed clearly. The research of the fine structures of sunspots can help us to understand the evolution of solar magnetic fields and to predict eruption phenomena that have significant impacts on the Earth, such as solar flares. Therefore, algorithms for automatically segmenting the fine structures of sunspots in high-resolution solar image will greatly facilitate the study of solar physics. Aims. This study is aimed at proposing an automatic fine-structure segmentation method for sunspots that is accurate and requires little time. Methods. We used the superpixel segmentation to preprocess a solar image. Next, the intensity information, texture information, and spatial location information were used as features. Based on these features, the Gaussian mixture model was used to cluster different superpixels. According to different intensity levels of the umbra, penumbra, and quiet photosphere, the clusters were classified into umbra, penumbra, and quiet-photosphere areas. Finally, the morphological method was used to extract the light-bridge area. Results. The experimental results show that the method we propose can segment the fine structures of sunspots quickly and accurately. In addition, the method can process high-resolution solar images from different solar telescopes and generates a satisfactory segmentation performance.more » « less
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Context. Resistive Ohmic dissipation has been suggested as a mechanism for heating the solar chromosphere, but few studies have established this association. Aims. We aim to determine how Ohmic dissipation by electric currents can heat the solar chromosphere. Methods. We combine high-resolution spectroscopic Ca II data from the Dunn Solar Telescope and vector magnetic field observations from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) to investigate thermal enhancements in a sunspot light bridge. The photospheric magnetic field from HMI was extrapolated to the corona using a non-force-free field technique that provided the three-dimensional distribution of electric currents, while an inversion of the chromospheric Ca II line with a local thermodynamic equilibrium and a nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium spectral archive delivered the temperature stratifications from the photosphere to the chromosphere. Results. We find that the light bridge is a site of strong electric currents, of about 0.3 A m −2 at the bottom boundary, which extend to about 0.7 Mm while decreasing monotonically with height. These currents produce a chromospheric temperature excess of about 600−800 K relative to the umbra. Only the light bridge, where relatively weak and highly inclined magnetic fields emerge over a duration of 13 h, shows a spatial coincidence of thermal enhancements and electric currents. The temperature enhancements and the Cowling heating are primarily confined to a height range of 0.4−0.7 Mm above the light bridge. The corresponding increase in internal energy of 200 J m −3 can be supplied by the heating in about 10 min. Conclusions. Our results provide direct evidence for currents heating the lower solar chromosphere through Ohmic dissipation.more » « less
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Context. The inverse Evershed flow (IEF) is a mass motion towards sunspots at chromospheric heights. Aims. We combined high-resolution observations of NOAA 12418 from the Dunn Solar Telescope and vector magnetic field measurements from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) to determine the driver of the IEF. Methods. We derived chromospheric line-of-sight (LOS) velocities from spectra of H α and Ca II IR. The HMI data were used in a non-force-free magnetic field extrapolation to track closed field lines near the sunspot in the active region. We determined their length and height, located their inner and outer foot points, and derived flow velocities along them. Results. The magnetic field lines related to the IEF reach on average a height of 3 megameter (Mm) over a length of 13 Mm. The inner (outer) foot points are located at 1.2 (1.9) sunspot radii. The average field strength difference Δ B between inner and outer foot points is +400 G. The temperature difference Δ T is anti-correlated with Δ B with an average value of −100 K. The pressure difference Δ p is dominated by Δ B and is primarily positive with a driving force towards the inner foot points of 1.7 kPa on average. The velocities predicted from Δ p reproduce the LOS velocities of 2–10 km s −1 with a square-root dependence. Conclusions. We find that the IEF is driven along magnetic field lines connecting network elements with the outer penumbra by a gas pressure difference that results from a difference in field strength as predicted by the classical siphon flow scenario.more » « less