High-Resolution Proper Motions in a Sunspot Penumbra

Márquez, I.; Sánchez Almeida, J.; Bonet, J. A.
Referencia bibliográfica

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 638, Issue 1, pp. 553-563.

Fecha de publicación:
2
2006
Número de autores
3
Número de autores del IAC
3
Número de citas
27
Número de citas referidas
18
Descripción
Local correlation tracking techniques are used to measure proper motions in a series of high angular resolution (~0.1") penumbra images. If these motions trace true plasma motions, then we have detected converging flows that arrange the plasma in long narrow filaments cospatial with dark penumbral filaments. Assuming that these flows are stationary, the vertical stratification of the atmosphere and the conservation of mass suggest downflows in the filaments on the order of 200 m s-1. The association between downflows and dark features may be a sign of convection, as it happens with the nonmagnetic granulation. Insufficient spatial resolution may explain why the estimated vertical velocities are not fast enough to supply the radiative losses of penumbrae.