Bibcode
DOI
Khomenko, E.; Collados, M.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 659, Issue 2, pp. 1726-1735.
Advertised on:
4
2007
Journal
Citations
57
Refereed citations
47
Description
The results of the determination of magnetic field strength from weak
polarimetric signals in solar internetwork regions are contradictory. We
investigate the origin of this contradiction with the help of MHD
simulations. It is shown that the Stokes V amplitude ratio of the Fe I
λλ15652-15648 lines is a good indicator of kG magnetic
field concentrations, even for magnetic fields with a complex internal
structure like those in MHD simulations. The Stokes V amplitude ratio of
the Fe I λλ5247-5250 lines also shows a good correlation
with magnetic field strength. However, in simulations with a flux level
appropriate for the internetwork, it gives values corresponding to
sub-kG fields. The reason is the rapid decrease of the field strength
with height in kG magnetic field concentrations. These lines sample high
regions of the atmosphere, where the field is already below kG levels.
We also find that the Stokes V amplitude ratio of the Fe I
λλ6301-6302 lines shows no correlation with the magnetic
field strength. The reason lies in the large difference in the heights
of formation of these two lines. The value of the magnetic field
strength obtained from the Fe I λλ6301 and 6302 lines
depends crucially on the treatment of gradients of the magnetic field,
line-of-sight velocity, and temperature, even at a numerical spatial
resolution of 20 km.