Advection and dispersal of small magnetic elements in the very quiet Sun

Manso-Sainz, R.; Martínez-González, M. J.; Asensio-Ramos, A.
Bibliographical reference

Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 531, id.L9

Advertised on:
7
2011
Number of authors
3
IAC number of authors
3
Citations
44
Refereed citations
37
Description
We track small magnetic structures on very quiet regions (internetwork) of the Sun. We follow the footpoints of small-scale magnetic loops that appear on the photosphere at granular scales using spectropolarimetric and magnetographic data obtained with Hinode. We find two different regimes for their wanderings. Within granules (where they appear), they seem to be passively advected by the plasma - which is justified by their relatively low magnetic flux (~1016 Mx), and magnetic field strength (~200 G). The plasma flow thus traced is roughly laminar with a characteristic mean velocity of 2 km s-1 and very low vorticity. Once the magnetic markers reach intergranular lanes, they remain there and are buffeted by the random flows of neighbouring granules and turbulent intergranules, follow random walks, and disperse across the solar surface with a diffusion constant of 195 km2 s-1. While on their intergranular random walking, they may fall close to whirlpools (on scales ≲400 km) associated with convective downdrafts, similar to the events recently reported in mesogranular and supergranular cell boundaries tracking magnetic bright points, which provides additional evidence that these events are ubiquitous on the solar surface.
Related projects
Project Image
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
Project Image
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