Bibcode
Wiegelmann, T.; Solanki, S. K.; Borrero, J. M.; Martínez-Pillet, V.; del Toro Iniesta, J. C.; Domingo, V.; Bonet, J. A.; Barthol, P.; Gandorfer, A.; Knölker, M.; Schmidt, W.; Title, A. M.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 723, Issue 2, pp. L185-L189 (2010).
Advertised on:
11
2010
Citations
40
Refereed citations
35
Description
We investigate the fine structure of magnetic fields in the atmosphere
of the quiet Sun. We use photospheric magnetic field measurements from
SUNRISE/IMaX with unprecedented spatial resolution to extrapolate the
photospheric magnetic field into higher layers of the solar atmosphere
with the help of potential and force-free extrapolation techniques. We
find that most magnetic loops that reach into the chromosphere or higher
have one footpoint in relatively strong magnetic field regions in the
photosphere. Ninety-one percent of the magnetic energy in the
mid-chromosphere (at a height of 1 Mm) is in field lines, whose stronger
footpoint has a strength of more than 300 G, i.e., above the
equipartition field strength with convection. The loops reaching into
the chromosphere and corona are also found to be asymmetric in the sense
that the weaker footpoint has a strength B < 300 G and is located in
the internetwork (IN). Such loops are expected to be strongly dynamic
and have short lifetimes, as dictated by the properties of the IN
fields.
Related projects
Solar and Stellar Magnetism
Magnetic fields are at the base of star formation and stellar structure and evolution. When stars are born, magnetic fields brake the rotation during the collapse of the mollecular cloud. In the end of the life of a star, magnetic fields can play a key role in the form of the strong winds that lead to the last stages of stellar evolution. During
Tobías
Felipe García