Evidence for the Operation of the Hanle and Magneto-optical Effects in the Scattering Polarization Signals Observed by CLASP2 across the Mg II h and k Lines

Ishikawa, Ryohko; Trujillo Bueno, Javier; Alsina Ballester, Ernest; Belluzzi, Luca; del Pino Alemán, Tanausú; McKenzie, David E.; Auchère, Frédéric; Kobayashi, Ken; Okamoto, Takenori J.; Rachmeler, Laurel A.; Song, Donguk
Bibliographical reference

The Astrophysical Journal

Advertised on:
3
2023
Number of authors
11
IAC number of authors
3
Citations
1
Refereed citations
1
Description
Radiative transfer investigations of the solar Mg II h and k resonance lines around 280 nm have shown that, while their circular polarization (Stokes V) signals arise from the Zeeman effect, the linear polarization profiles (Stokes Q and U) are dominated by the scattering of anisotropic radiation and the Hanle and magneto-optical (MO) effects. Using the unprecedented observations of the Mg II and Mn I resonance lines obtained by the Chromospheric LAyer Spectro-Polarimeter (CLASP2), here we investigate how the linear polarization signals at different wavelengths (i.e., at the center, and at the near and far wings of the k line) vary with the longitudinal component of the magnetic field (B L ) at their approximate height of formation. The B L is estimated from the V signals in the aforementioned spectral lines. Particular attention is given to the following quantities that are expected to be influenced by the presence of magnetic fields through the Hanle and MO effects: the sign of the U signals, the total linear polarization amplitude (LP) and its direction (χ) with respect to a reference direction. We find that at the center and near wings of the k line, the behavior of these quantities is significantly different in the observed quiet and plage regions, and that both LP and χ seem to depend on B L . These observational results are indicative of the operation of the Hanle effect at the center of the k line and of the MO effects at the near wings of the k line.
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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