Bibcode
McKenzie, David Eugene; Ishikawa, Ryohko; Kano, Ryouhei; Rachmeler, Laurel; Trujillo Bueno, Javier; Kobayashi, Ken; Song, Donguk; Yoshida, Masaki; Auchere, Frederic; Okamoto, Takenori
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society Meeting #234, id. 126.01. Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 51, No. 4
Advertised on:
6
2019
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Description
A major challenge for heliophysics is to decipher the magnetic structure
of the chromosphere, because of its vital role in the transport of
energy into the corona and solar wind. Routine satellite measurements of
the chromospheric magnetic field will dramatically improve our
understanding of the chromosphere and its connection to the rest of the
solar atmosphere. Before such a satellite can be considered for flight,
we must refine the measurement techniques by exploring emission lines
with a range of magnetic sensitivities. In 2015, CLASP achieved the
first measurement of linear polarization produced by scattering
processes in a far UV resonance line (hydrogen Lyman-α), and the
first exploration of the magnetic field (via the Hanle effect) and
geometrical complexity in quiet regions of the chromosphere-corona
transition region. These measurements are a first step towards routine
quantitative characterization of the local thermal and magnetic
conditions in this key layer of the solar atmosphere.
Nonetheless, Lyman-α is only one of the magnetically sensitive
spectral lines in the UV spectrum. CLASP2 extends the capability of UV
spectropolarimetry by acquiring ground-breaking measurements in the Mg
II h and k spectral lines near 280 nm, whose cores form about 100 km
below the Lyman-α core. These lines are sensitive to a larger
range of field strengths than Lyman-α, through both the Hanle and
Zeeman effects. CLASP2 will capture measurements of linear and circular
polarization to enable the first determination of all 4 Stokes
parameters in chromospheric UV radiation. Coupled with numerical
modeling of the observed spectral line polarization (anisotropic
radiation pumping with Hanle, Zeeman and magneto-optical effects),
CLASP2 is a pathfinder for determination of the magnetic field's
strength and direction, as well as of the geometry of the plasma in the
upper solar chromosphere.
CLASP2 will launch from White Sands Missile Range in April 2019. In this
presentation, we will summarize the characteristics of the CLASP2
flight, the performance of the UV telescope and spectropolarimeter, and
our preliminary findings.