Solar plasma moving extremely fast
Scientists of the Astronomical Institute SAS, M. Benko, P. Gömöry and S.J. González Manrique, studied the conditions in the solar atmosphere, mainly the magnetic and velocity fields above sunspots, in cooperation with foreign scientists. For the analysis, they used data with a high spatial resolution obtained by the European GREGOR solar telescope with the main mirror with a diameter of 1.5 m, located at the Teide Observatory in the Canary Islands.
"We focused the observation campaign on obtaining the so-called spectro-polarimetric data, which record not only the distribution of incident radiation in individual wavelengths but also precise information about the state of its polarization. Such measurements make it possible to obtain complete information about the magnetic induction vector, as well as information about the Doppler velocity of the plasma at the observation location," explains Peter Gömöry, Director of the Astronomical Institute SAS.
Magnetic fields are the dominant physical phenomenon controlling all processes in the Sun's atmosphere. Determining the exact topology of the magnetic fields is crucial for a better understanding of the processes taking place on our star. It is particularly important to find out the height stratification of the magnetic induction vector and the interconnection of the individual layers of the solar atmosphere from the photosphere through the chromosphere to the corona.
"In the present research, it was clearly demonstrated that the total magnitude of the magnetic induction vector decreases with increasing height above the sunspot. The decrease is more pronounced in the central part of the sunspot (umbra) and slower in the filamentary penumbra. The angle of inclination also changes with height. The azimuth remains almost constant," adds the astronomer.
Moreover, small localized regions were also revealed inside and near the outer boundary of the penumbra of the observed sunspot, where the values of Doppler plasma velocities reached a magnitude of up to 30 km/s. This corresponds to movements faster than the speed of sound in a given environment. Thus, the sunspot region has been shown to be an extremely dynamic environment.
Source: Peter Gömöry, Astronomický ústav SAV, v. v. i.
Edited by Monika Tináková
Foto: canva.com
Grafika: Astronomický ústav SAV, v. v. i.