Bibcode
DOI
Martinez Pillet, V.; Lites, B. W.; Skumanich, A.; Degenhardt, D.
Bibliographical reference
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 425, no. 2, p. L113-L115
Advertised on:
4
1994
Journal
Citations
42
Refereed citations
36
Description
We present polarization profiles observed with the High Altitude
Observatory/National Solar Observatory (HAO/NSO) Advanced Stokes
Polarimeter (ASP) that demonstrate, in a model-independent way, the
presence of strong downflows close to the neutral line of a delta
sunspot (a spot with both polarities contained within the same
penumbra). The flows are as large as 14 km/s, a velocity that, at
photospheric levels, strongly suggests the presence of supersonic
compressive fluid flows in a region only 100-200 km above the visible
surface. These velocities are probably the largest ever reported at
photospheric levels. The region containing the downflows is large enough
(about 2 sec on a side) to be resolved, although it is likely to contain
fine structure at or below our spatial resolution. The origin of these
flows is discussed in terms of the funneling of material through an
isolated magnetic nozzle in an otherwise closed magnetic system which is
rising through the surface.