S. Criscuoli

Why One-dimensional Models Fail in the Diagnosis of Average Spectra from Inhomogeneous Stellar Atmospheres

We investigate the feasibility of representing a structured multi-dimensional stellar atmosphere with a single one-dimensional average stratification for the purpose of spectral diagnosis of the atmospheres average spectrum. In particular, we construct four different one-dimensional stratifications from a single snapshot of a magnetohydrodynamic simulation of solar convection: one by averaging its properties over surfaces of constant height and three by averaging over surfaces of constant optical depth at 500 nm. Using these models, we calculate continuum and atomic and molecular line intensities and their center-to-limb variations. From an analysis of the emerging spectra, we identify three main reasons why these average representations are inadequate for accurate determination of stellar atmospheric properties through spectroscopic analysis. These reasons are nonlinearity in the Planck function with temperature, which raises the average emergent intensity of an inhomogeneous atmosphere above that of an average-property atmosphere, even if their temperature-optical depth stratification is identical; nonlinearities in molecular formation with temperature and density, which raise the abundance of molecules of an inhomogeneous atmosphere over that in a one-dimensional model with the same average properties; and the anisotropy of convective motions, which strongly affects the center-to-limb variation of line-core intensities. We argue therefore that a one-dimensional atmospheric model that reproduces the mean spectrum of an inhomogeneous atmosphere necessarily does not reflect the average physical properties of that atmosphere and is therefore inherently unreliable.

Imaging Spectropolarimetry with IBIS. II. On the Fine Structure of G-band Bright Features

We present new results from first observations of the quiet solar photosphere performed through the Interferometric BIdimensional Spectrometer (IBIS) in spectropolarimetric mode. IBIS allowed us to measure the four Stokes parameters in the Fe I 630.15 nm and Fe I 630.25 nm lines with high spatial and spectral resolutions for 53 minutes; the polarimetric sensitivity achieved by the instrument is 3 x 10{sup -3} the continuum intensity level. We focus on the correlation which emerges between the G-band bright feature brightness and magnetic filling factor of {approx}10{sup 3} G (kG) fields derived by inverting the Stokes I and V profiles. In more detail, we present the correlation first in a pixel-by-pixel study of a {approx_equal}3 wide bright feature (a small network patch) and then we show that such a result can be extended to all the bright features found in the data set at any instant of the time sequence. The higher the kilo-Gauss filling factor associated to a feature, the higher the brightness of the feature itself. Filling factors up to {approx_equal}35% are obtained for the brightest features. Considering the values of the filling factors derived from the inversion analysis of spectropolarimetric data and the brightness variation observed inmorexa0» the G-band data we put forward an upper limit for the smallest scale over which magnetic flux concentrations in intergranular lanes produce a G-band brightness enhancement ({approx_equal}0.1). Moreover, the brightness saturation observed for feature sizes comparable to the resolution of the observations is compatible with the large G-band bright features being clusters of sub-arcsecond bright points. This conclusion deserves to be confirmed by forthcoming spectropolarimetric observations at higher spatial resolution.«xa0less

Observation of bipolar moving magnetic features streaming out from a naked spot

Context. Mechanisms responsible for active-region formation, evolution, and decay have been investigated by many authors and several common features have been identified. In particular, a key element in the dispersal of the magnetic field seems to be the presence of magnetic elements, called moving magnetic features (MMFs). Aims. We analyze the short-lived sunspot group NOAA 10977, which appeared on the solar disk between 2 and 8 December 2007, to study the details of its emergence and decay phases. Methods. We performed a multi wavelength analysis of the region using images at visible (G band and Hα) and near-IR (Ca ii) wavelengths acquired by both the IBIS instrument and SOT/HINODE, EUV images (17.1 nm) acquired by TRACE, and MDI and SOT magnetograms. Results. The observed region exhibits some peculiarities. During the emergence phase the formation of the f-pore was initially observed, while the p-polarity later formed a naked spot, i.e., a sunspot without a penumbra. We measured a moat flow around this spot, and observed some MMFs streaming out from it during the decay phase. The characteristics of these MMFs allowed us to classify them as type I (U-shaped) MMFs. They were also cospatial with sites of increased brightness both in the photosphere and the chromosphere. Conclusions. The presence of bipolar MMFs in a naked spot indicates that current interpretation of bipolar MMFs, as extensions of the penumbral filaments beyond the sunspot outer boundaries, should be revised, to take into account this observational evidence. We believe that our results provide new insights into improving models of sunspot evolution.

Radiative emission of solar features in the Ca II K line: comparison of measurements and models

Context. The intensity of the Ca II K resonance line observed with spectrographs and Lyot-type filters has long served as a diagnostic of the solar chromosphere. However, the literature contains a relative lack of photometric measurements of solar features observed at this spectral range. Aims. We study the radiative emission of various types of solar features, such as quiet Sun, enhanced network, plage, and bright plage regions, identified on filtergrams taken in the Ca II K line. Methods. We analysed full-disk images obtained with the PSPT, by using three interference filters that sample the Ca II K line with different bandpasses. We studied the dependence of the radiative emission of disk features on the filter bandpass. We also performed a non-local thermal equilibrium (NLTE) spectral synthesis of the Ca II K line integrated over the bandpass of PSPT filters. The synthesis was carried out by utilizing the partial frequency redistribution (PRD) with the most recent set of semi-empirical atmosphere models in the literature and some earlier atmosphere models. As the studied models were computed by assuming the complete redistribution formalism (CRD), we also performed simulations with this approximation for comparison. Results. We measured the center-to-limb variation of intensity values for various solar features identified on PSPT images and compared the results obtained with those derived from the synthesis. We find that CRD calculations derived using the most recent quiet Sun model, on average, reproduce the measured values of the quiet Sun regions slightly more accurately than PRD computations with the same model. This may reflect that the utilized atmospheric model was computed assuming CRD. Calculations with PRD on earlier quiet Sun model atmospheres reproduce measured quantities with a similar accuracy as to that achieved here by applying CRD to the recent model. We also find that the median contrast values measured for most of the identified bright features, disk positions, and filter bandpasses are, on average, a factor ≈1.9 lower than those derived from PRD simulations performed using the recent bright feature models. The discrepancy between measured and modeled values decreases by ≈12% after taking into account straylight effects on PSPT images. When moving towards the limb, PRD computations display closer agreement with the data than performed in CRD. Moreover, PRD computations on either the most recent or the earlier atmosphere models of bright features reproduce measurements from plage and bright plage regions with a similar accuracy.

High cadence spectropolarimetry of moving magnetic features observed around a pore

Context. Moving magnetic features (MMFs) are small-size magnetic elements that are seen to stream out from sunspots, generally during their decay phase. Several observational results presented in the literature suggest them to be closely related to magnetic filaments that extend from the penumbra of the parent spot. Nevertheless, few observations of MMFs streaming out from spots without penumbra have been reported. The literature still lacks analyses of the physical properties of these features. Aims. We investigate physical properties of monopolar MMFs observed around a small pore that had developed penumbra in the days preceding our observations and compare our results with those reported in the literature for features observed around sunspots. Methods. We analyzed NOAA 11005 during its decay phase with data acquired at the Dunn Solar Telescope in the Fe i 617. 3n m and the Ca ii 854.2 nm spectral lines with IBIS, and in the G-band. The field of view showed monopolar MMFs of both polarities streaming out from the leading negative polarity pore of the observed active region. Combining different analyses of the data, we investigated the temporal evolution of the relevant physical quantities associated with the MMFs as well as the photospheric and chromospheric signatures of these features. Results. We show that the characteristics of the investigated MMFs agree with those reported in the literature for MMFs that stream out from spots with penumbrae. Moreover, observations of at least two of the observed features suggest them to be manifestations of emerging magnetic arches.

LINE SHAPE EFFECTS ON INTENSITY MEASUREMENTS OF SOLAR FEATURES: BRIGHTNESS CORRECTION TO SOHO MDI CONTINUUM IMAGES

Continuum intensity observations obtained with the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on board the SOHO mission provide long time series of filtergrams that are ideal for studying the evolution of large-scale phenomena in the solar atmosphere and their dependence on solar activity. These filtergrams, however, are not taken in a pure continuum spectral band, but are constructed from a proxy, namely a combination of filtergrams sampling the Ni I 6768 A line. We studied the sensitivity of this continuum proxy to the shape of the nickel line and to the degradation in the instrumental transmission profiles. We compared continuum intensity measurements near the nickel line with MDI proxy values in three sets of high-resolution spectro-polarimetric data obtained with the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer, and in synthetic data, obtained from multi-dimensional simulations of magneto-convection and one-dimensional atmosphere models. We found that MDI continuum measurements require brightness corrections which depend on magnetic field strength, temperature and, to a smaller extent, plasma velocity. The correction ranges from 2% to 25% in sunspots, and is, on average, less than 2% for other features. The brightness correction also varies with position on the disk, with larger variations obtained for sunspots, and smaller variations obtained for quiet Sun, faculae, and micropores. Correction factors derived from observations agree with those deduced from the numerical simulations when observational effects are taken into account. Finally, we found that the investigated potential uncertainties in the transmission characteristics of MDI filters only slightly affect the brightness correction to proxy measurements.

Magnetic evolution of superactive regions - Complexity and potentially unstable magnetic discontinuities

Context. It is widely accepted that solar flares are manifestations of magnetic reconnection events taking place in the solar atmosphere. Several aspects of these events remain unclear, although many efforts have been devoted to the investigation of magnetic field configurations at flare occurrence sites. Aims. In this work, we have studied the temporal evolution of some properties of a sample of superactive regions with the aim to single out the most significant for flare activity forecasting. Methods. We have investigated properties of 14 superactive regions, observed between January 1st 2000 and December 31st 2006 with MDI/SOHO instrument and characterized by a particularly intense flare activity during their passage on the solar disk. We have analyzed the temporal evolution of fractal and multifractal properties of photospheric magnetic fields, namely the generalized fractal dimension and the contribution and dimensional diversities, which describe geometrical properties of the magnetic field, as well as the potential unstable volumes of magnetic discontinuities above the studied ARs, which may provide information about the magnetic field configuration in upper layers of the atmosphere. Correlations of these quantities with the flare index, which provides information about the flare activity of a region, have also been estimated. Results. We found that in 50% of our sample the generalized fractal dimension is correlated with the flare index computed over windows of 50 h, while the contribution diversity and the dimensional diversity are anticorrelated with the same index. A clear increase of the potential unstable volume of magnetic discontinuities in the corona is observed before the phases characterized by more frequent and intense flares. We also found that the free energy distribution functions of unstable volumes of the analyzed superactive regions can be fitted with straight lines whose slope is larger than the values found in previous works for less active magnetic regions. Conclusions. The generalized fractal dimension and the potential unstable volume of magnetic discontinuities are the most suitable for statistical investigations of relations with flare activity over longer (50 h) and shorter (few hours) time intervals, respectively.

EFFECTS OF UNRESOLVED MAGNETIC FIELD ON Fe I 617.3 AND 630.2 nm LINE SHAPES

The contribution of the quiet Sun to solar irradiance variability, either due to changes of the solar effective temperature or to the presence of unresolved magnetic field, is still poorly understood. In this study we investigate spectral line diagnostics that are sensitive to both temperature variations and the presence of small-scale unresolved magnetic features in these areas of the solar atmosphere. Specifically, we study the dependence on the magnetic flux density of three parameters describing the shape of two magnetically sensitive Fe I lines, at 630.2 nm and 617.3 nm, namely the line core intensity (IC), the FWHM, and the equivalent width (EQW). To this end we analyze observations of active region NOAA 11172, acquired with Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer at the Dunn Solar Telescope, as well as results from numerical synthesis. Our results show that IC is sensitive to both temperature and magnetic flux density variations, FWHM is mostly affected by magnetic field changes, and EQW is mostly sensitive to temperature. Variations of a few percent of the measured line parameters are found in observational data that were spatially degraded to represent quiet-Sun, disk-center, medium-resolution observations. It is therefore possible to disentangle magnetic from pure thermodynamic effects by the comparison of temporal variations of the EQW and the FWHM of either of the two Fe I lines.

Kinematics and Magnetic Properties of a Light Bridge in a Decaying Sunspot

We present the results obtained by analysing high spatial and spectral resolution data of the solar photosphere acquired by the CRisp Imaging SpectroPolarimeter at the Swedish Solar Telescope on 6 August 2011 of a large sunspot with a light bridge (LB) observed in NOAA AR 11263. These data are complemented by simultaneous Hinode Spectropolarimeter (SP) observation in the Fe I 630.15 nm and 630.25xa0nm lines. The continuum intensity map shows a discontinuity in the radial distribution of the penumbral filaments in correspondence with the LB, which shows a dark lane (≈0.3″

The digitized archive of the Arcetri spectroheliograms. Preliminary results from the analysis of Ca II K images

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