Bibcode
Hirzberger, J.; Bonet, J. A.; Sobotka, M.; Vázquez, M.; Hanslmeier, A.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.383, p.275-282 (2002)
Advertised on:
1
2002
Journal
Citations
43
Refereed citations
39
Description
A photometric analysis of the sub-structure of a granular light bridge
in a large solar pore is performed. The data consist of a 66 min time
series of white light images (lambda = 5425 Å,+/- 50 Å) of
an active region NOAA 7886 obtained at the Swedish Vacuum Solar
Telescope on La Palma, Canary Islands. The light bridge can be resolved
into an assembly of small grains embedded in a diffuse background with
an intensity of about 85% of the mean photospheric intensity
(Iphot). Following the temporal evolution of these
sub-structures in their irregular motions inside the light bridge,
proper motions with velocities up to 1.5 km s-1 can be
detected. Their lifetime distribution shows a maximum at 5 min and a
second peak at approximately 20 min. The origin and the decay of these
sub-structures is very similar to those of granules, i.e. fragmentation,
merging and spontaneous origination from, and dissolution into, the
background can be observed. Some of them are able to escape from the
light bridge into the umbra where they cannot be distinguished from
adjacent umbral dots. Generally, this study presents evidence that the
observed phenomenon represents convective motions.