Bibcode
Alsina Ballester, E.; Belluzzi, L.; Trujillo Bueno, J.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 854, Issue 2, article id. 150, 16 pp. (2018).
Advertised on:
2
2018
Journal
Citations
19
Refereed citations
17
Description
The linear polarization pattern produced by scattering processes in the
Ca I 4227 Å resonance line is a valuable observable for probing
the solar atmosphere. Via the Hanle effect, the very significant Q/I and
U/I line-center signals are sensitive to the presence of magnetic fields
in the lower chromosphere with strengths between 5 and 125 G,
approximately. On the other hand, partial frequency redistribution (PRD)
produces sizable signals in the wings of the Q/I profile, which have
always been thought to be insensitive to the presence of magnetic
fields. Interestingly, novel observations of this line revealed a
surprising behavior: fully unexpected signals in the wings of the U/I
profile and spatial variability in the wings of both Q/I and U/I. We
show that the magneto-optical (MO) terms of the Stokes-vector transfer
equation produce sizable signals in the wings of U/I and a clear
sensitivity of the Q/I and U/I wings to the presence of photospheric
magnetic fields with strengths similar to those that produce the Hanle
effect in the line core. This radiative transfer investigation on the
joint action of scattering processes and the Hanle and Zeeman effects in
the Ca I 4227 Å line should facilitate the development of more
reliable techniques for exploring the magnetism of stellar atmospheres.
To this end, we can now exploit the circular polarization produced by
the Zeeman effect, the magnetic sensitivity caused by the
above-mentioned MO effects in the Q/I and U/I wings, and the Hanle
effect in the line core.
Related projects
Magnetism, Polarization and Radiative Transfer in Astrophysics
Magnetic fields pervade all astrophysical plasmas and govern most of the variability in the Universe at intermediate time scales. They are present in stars across the whole Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, in galaxies, and even perhaps in the intergalactic medium. Polarized light provides the most reliable source of information at our disposal for the
Tanausú del
Pino Alemán