Bibcode
Alsina Ballester, E.; Belluzzi, L.; Trujillo Bueno, J.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 831, Issue 2, article id. L15, 6 pp. (2016).
Advertised on:
11
2016
Citations
45
Refereed citations
41
Description
We highlight the main results of a radiative transfer investigation on
the magnetic sensitivity of the solar Mg ii k resonance line at 2795.5
Å, accounting for the joint action of the Hanle and Zeeman effects
as well as partial frequency redistribution phenomena. We confirm that
at the line center, the linear polarization signals produced by
scattering processes are measurable, and that they are sensitive, via
the Hanle effect, to magnetic fields with strengths between 5 and 50 G,
approximately. We also show that the Zeeman effect produces conspicuous
circular polarization signals, especially for longitudinal fields
stronger than 50 G, which can be used to estimate the magnetization of
the solar chromosphere via the familiar magnetograph formula. The most
novel result is that magneto-optical effects produce, in the wings of
the line, a decrease of the Q/I scattering polarization pattern and the
appearance of U/I signals (i.e., a rotation of the plane of linear
polarization). This sensitivity of the Q/I and U/I wing signals to both
weak (∼5 G) and stronger magnetic fields expands the scientific
interest of the Mg ii k line for probing the chromosphere in quiet and
active regions of the Sun.