Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry
Plage regions are patches of concentrated magnetic field in the Sun’s atmosphere where hot coronal loops are rooted. While previous studies have shed light on the properties of plage magnetic fields in the photosphere, there are still challenges in measuring the overlying chromospheric magnetic fiel...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acf21f |
| _version_ | 1797690465171013632 |
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| author | J. M. da Silva Santos K. Reardon G. Cauzzi T. Schad V. Martínez Pillet A. Tritschler F. Wöger R. Hofmann J. Stauffer H. Uitenbroek |
| author_facet | J. M. da Silva Santos K. Reardon G. Cauzzi T. Schad V. Martínez Pillet A. Tritschler F. Wöger R. Hofmann J. Stauffer H. Uitenbroek |
| author_sort | J. M. da Silva Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plage regions are patches of concentrated magnetic field in the Sun’s atmosphere where hot coronal loops are rooted. While previous studies have shed light on the properties of plage magnetic fields in the photosphere, there are still challenges in measuring the overlying chromospheric magnetic fields, which are crucial to understanding the overall heating and dynamics. Here, we utilize high-sensitivity, spectropolarimetric data obtained by the 4 meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope to investigate the dynamic environment and magnetic field stratification of an extended, decaying plage region. The data show strong circular polarization signals in both plage cores and surrounding fibrils. Notably, weak linear polarization signals clearly differentiate between plage patches and the fibril canopy, where they are relatively stronger. Inversions of the Ca II 8542 Å spectra show an imprint of the fibrils in the chromospheric magnetic field, with typical field strength values ranging from ∼200 to 300 G in fibrils. We confirm the weak correlation between field strength and cooling rates in the lower chromosphere. Additionally, we observe supersonic downflows and strong velocity gradients in the plage periphery, indicating dynamical processes occurring in the chromosphere. These findings contribute to our understanding of the magnetic field and dynamics within plages, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the expansion of magnetic fields with height and the three-dimensional distribution of heating rates in the lower chromosphere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:59:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-133eb497b16043df92a8e86c3a057cf6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-8205 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:59:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-133eb497b16043df92a8e86c3a057cf62023-09-07T17:34:38ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052023-01-019542L3510.3847/2041-8213/acf21fMagnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity SpectropolarimetryJ. M. da Silva Santos0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3009-295XK. Reardon1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8016-0001G. Cauzzi2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6116-7301T. Schad3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7451-9804V. Martínez Pillet4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7764-6895A. Tritschler5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3147-8026F. Wöger6R. Hofmann7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5556-6840J. Stauffer8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-4685H. Uitenbroek9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2554-1351National Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.eduNational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.edu; Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado , Boulder, CO 80303, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.eduNational Solar Observatory , 22 ́Ōhía Kū Street, Pukalani, HI 96768, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.eduNational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.eduNational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.eduNational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.edu; Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado , Boulder, CO 80303, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.edu; Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado , Boulder, CO 80303, USANational Solar Observatory , 3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; jdasilvasantos@nso.eduPlage regions are patches of concentrated magnetic field in the Sun’s atmosphere where hot coronal loops are rooted. While previous studies have shed light on the properties of plage magnetic fields in the photosphere, there are still challenges in measuring the overlying chromospheric magnetic fields, which are crucial to understanding the overall heating and dynamics. Here, we utilize high-sensitivity, spectropolarimetric data obtained by the 4 meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope to investigate the dynamic environment and magnetic field stratification of an extended, decaying plage region. The data show strong circular polarization signals in both plage cores and surrounding fibrils. Notably, weak linear polarization signals clearly differentiate between plage patches and the fibril canopy, where they are relatively stronger. Inversions of the Ca II 8542 Å spectra show an imprint of the fibrils in the chromospheric magnetic field, with typical field strength values ranging from ∼200 to 300 G in fibrils. We confirm the weak correlation between field strength and cooling rates in the lower chromosphere. Additionally, we observe supersonic downflows and strong velocity gradients in the plage periphery, indicating dynamical processes occurring in the chromosphere. These findings contribute to our understanding of the magnetic field and dynamics within plages, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the expansion of magnetic fields with height and the three-dimensional distribution of heating rates in the lower chromosphere.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acf21fPlagesSpectropolarimetrySolar atmosphereSolar chromosphereSolar magnetic fields |
| spellingShingle | J. M. da Silva Santos K. Reardon G. Cauzzi T. Schad V. Martínez Pillet A. Tritschler F. Wöger R. Hofmann J. Stauffer H. Uitenbroek Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry The Astrophysical Journal Letters Plages Spectropolarimetry Solar atmosphere Solar chromosphere Solar magnetic fields |
| title | Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry |
| title_full | Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry |
| title_fullStr | Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry |
| title_short | Magnetic Fields in Solar Plage Regions: Insights from High-sensitivity Spectropolarimetry |
| title_sort | magnetic fields in solar plage regions insights from high sensitivity spectropolarimetry |
| topic | Plages Spectropolarimetry Solar atmosphere Solar chromosphere Solar magnetic fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acf21f |
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