arXiv subjects

Rolf Schlichenmaier

Publications and source records attributed to Rolf Schlichenmaier.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

The formation of a penumbra as observed with the German VTT and SoHO/MDI

The generation of magnetic flux in the solar interior and its transport to the outer solar atmosphere will be in the focus of solar physics research for the next decades. One key-ingredient is the process of magnetic flux emergence into the solar photosphere, and the reorganization to form the magnetic phenomena of active regions like sunspots and pores. On July 4, 2009, we observed a region of emerging magnetic flux, in which a proto-spot without penumbra forms a penumbra within some 4.5 hours. This process is documented by multi-wavelength observations at the German VTT: (a) imaging, (b) data with high resolution and temporal cadence acquired in Fe I 617.3 nm with the 2D imaging spectropolarimter GFPI, and (c) scans with the slit based spectropolarimeter TIP in Fe I 1089.6 nm. MDI contiuum maps and magnetograms are used to follow the formation of the proto-spot, and the subsequent evolution of the entire active region. During the formation of the penumbra, the area and the magnetic flux of the spot increases. The additional magnetic flux is supplied by the adjacent region of emerging magnetic flux: As emerging bipole separate, the poles of the spot polarity migrate towards the spot, and finally merge with it. As more and more flux is accumulated, a penumbra forms. From inversions we infer maps for the magnetic field and the Doppler velocity (being constant along the line-of-sight). We calculate the magnetic flux of the forming spot and of the bipole footpoints that merge with the proto-spot. We witness the onset of the Evershed flow and the associated enhance of the field inclination as individual penumbral filaments form. Prior to the formation of individual penumbral sectors we detect the existence of 'counter' Evershed flows. These in-flows turn into the classical radial Evershed outflows as stable penumbra segments form.

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arXiv2010

Spectral Analysis of Sunspot Penumbrae Observed with HINODE

To investigate the penumbral plasma flow on a small scale, spectropolari- metric data of sunspots recorded by HINODE was used. Maps of Doppler velocities were created by evaluating the bisector in the line-wing, thereby visualizing the flow pattern in the low photosphere where the Evershed effect is most pronounced. In penumbrae close to the disk center, the vertical component of the Evershed flow dominates. The latter consists of a series of elongated up-flow patterns extending radially through the entire center-side penumbra at a constant azimuth. Along this structure, strong up-flows appear in concentrated patches separated by weaker up-flows or even down-flows. The strong up-flows appear at the bright heads and the umbral side of the dark-core of the filament, while the down-flows are rather located at the penumbral side of the filament. Projection effects lead to an overall red-shift of the limb- side penumbra, but the described pattern of up- and down-flows is still ascertainable.

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arXiv2010

Center to limb variation of penumbral Stokes V profiles

We investigated the horizontal and the vertical component of the Evershed flow (EF). To this end, we computed average Stokes V profiles for various velocity classes in penumbrae at different heliocentric angles. Our results show that for blueshifted profiles an additional lobe with the same polarity as the spot is present in the blue side of the average Stokes V profile. The amplitude of the additional lobe grows with increasing blueshift and with increasing heliocentric angle. For small redshifts, the profiles show an additional lobe with the opposite polarity as the spot on the red side of the average Stokes V profile. Even at disk center, the original polarity of the average Stokes V profile is reversed for strong redshifts. The transition between the different types of Stokes V profiles is continuous and indicates that not only the vertical, but also the horizontal EF is a magnetized stream of plasma in a magnetic background field.

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arXiv2009

On the velocity field of sunspot penumbrae - I. A global view

We investigated the vertical penumbral plasma flow on small spatial scales using data recorded by the spectropolarimeter of the solar optical telescope onboard Hinode. To this end we computed maps of apparent Doppler velocities by comparing the spectral position of the Fe I 630.15 nm & Fe I 630.25 nm lines with the averaged line profiles of the quiet Sun. To visualize the flow pattern in the low photosphere, we used a bisector of the wing of the absorption lines. Due to the small heliocentric angle (3 < Theta < 9) of our data sets, the horizontal component of the Evershed flow (EF) does not contribute significantly to the line shift. We found that in the quiet Sun (QS), the area showing up-flows is always larger than the one exhibiting down-flows. In the penumbra, up-flows dominate only at low velocities |v_dop| < 0.4 km/s while at larger velocities |v_dop| > 0.6 km/s down-flows prevail. Additionally, the maximal up-flow velocity in penumbrae is smaller, while the maximal down-flow velocity is larger with respect to the QS velocities. Furthermore, on a spatial average, the penumbra shows a red-shift, corresponding to a down-flow of more than 0.1 km/s. Up-flows are elongated and appear predominately in the inner penumbra. Strong down-flows with velocities of up to 9 km/s are concentrated at the penumbra-QS boundary. They are magnetized and are rather round in shape. The inner penumbra shows an average up-flow, which turns into a mean down-flow in the outer penumbra. The up-flow patches in the inner penumbra and the down-flow locations in the outer penumbra could be interpreted as the sources and the sinks of the EF. We did not find any indication of roll-type convection within penumbral filaments.

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arXiv2008

Sunspots: from small-scale inhomogeneities towards a global theory

The penumbra of a sunspot is a fascinating phenomenon featuring complex velocity and magnetic fields. It challenges both our understanding of radiative magneto-convection and our means to measure and derive the actual geometry of the magnetic and velocity fields. In this contribution we attempt to summarize the present state-of-the-art from an observational and a theoretical perspective.

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